Skip to main content

Full text of "Final report on the battlefield of Gettysburg"

See other formats 


~?      ■sm~HkiB''ji.*i''.*~i_   1 
1  ■       .>IS^  - 


SVHBl-"  ■-(.■> 


£  ■     - .   ■ 


athaca,  New  ^ark 

THE  JAMES  VERNER  SCAIFE 

COLLECTION 

CIVIL  WAR  LITERATURE 


THE   GIFT  OF 

JAMES  VERNER  SCAIFE 

CLASS   OF    1889 

1919 


CORNELL  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 


1924  092  924  996 


^=^^ 


Cornell  University 
Library 


The  original  of  this  book  is  in 
the  Cornell  University  Library. 

There  are  no  known  copyright  restrictions  in 
the  United  States  on  the  use  of  the  text. 


http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924092924996 


NEW  YORK  MONUMENTS  COMMISSION 


FOR  THB 


BATTLEFIELDS  OF  GETTYSBURG  AND  CHATTANOOGA. 


FINAL  REPORT 


ON  THB 


BATTLEFIELD  OF  GETTYSBURG. 


COMMISSIONERS. 


Maj.-Gen.  Daniel  E.  Sickles,  U.  S.  A.    Maj.-Gen.  Daniel  Butterfield, 

BvT.  Maj.-Gen.  Alex.  S.  Webb.  Bvt.  Brig.-Gen.  Anson  G.  McCook. 

Col.  Lewis  R.  Stegman.  Col.  Clinton  Beckwith. 

Major  Charles  A.  Richardson.  The  Adjutant-General  of  the  State,  Ex-Officio. 

Chairman,  Maj.-Gen.  Daniel  E.  Sickles,  U.  S.  A. 

Engineer  and  Secy.,  A.  J.  Zabriskie. 


Vol.  III. 


ALBANY: 

J.  B.  LYON   COMPANY,  PRINTERS. 

1902. 


A. 3X^^23 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT. 


F.    J.    SEVEKENCK,  PHOTO. 


137th    new   YORK    INFANTRY. 
On  Gulp's  Hill.    Rislit  nr  Grppno  ,-i  New  York  Brigade. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


935 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


{Front.) 

137th  N.  Y.  INF'Y. 

3d  brig.     2d  DIV. 

12th  corps. 

(Reverse.) 

Casualties 

K.IVLED       40 

Wounded  87 

Missing      10 


(Left  Side.) 
For  its  services 

IN  THIS 

and  many  OTHER 

GREAT  BATTLES 

OF  THE  War 

IT  HOLDS  A 
PROUD   POSITION 
IN  THE   HISTORY 
OF  THE 

Great  Rebellion  ". 


(Right  Side.) 

The  137TH 

Regiment 

OF  New  York 

Infantry 

HELD  this 

position 

July  2,  1863, 

and  until  the 

retreat  of 

THE  Rebel  Army 


93^  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

ISrTH  REGIMENT  INFANTRY. 
Historical  Sketch  by  Surgeon  John  M.  Farrington. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  from  recruits  enlisted  in 
the  Twenty-fourth  senatorial  district.  Four  companies  were  raised  in  Broome, 
three  in  Tioga,  and  three  in  Tompkins  counties.  The  regiment  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service  September  25,  1862,  and  left  for  the  seat  of 
war  two  days  afterwards.  Capt.  David  Ireland,  of  the  Fifteenth  United  States 
Infantry,  who  was  recruiting  in  Binghamton,  was  appointed  colonel  of  the 
regiment,  and  Koert  S.  Van  Voorhees,  of  Ithaca,  received  the  appointment  of 
lieutenant  colonel.  Colonel  Ireland  brought  to  the  command  such  knowledge 
and  experience  of  military  service  that  by  his  drill  and  discipline  the  regiment 
rapidly  came  to  the  front  as  one  of  the  most  efficient  in  the  service.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Van  Voorhees  had  the  advantage  of  several  years'  service  in  the  New 
York  State  Militia,  and  was  an  able  and  accomplished  officer.  The  regiment 
contained  a  noble  body  of  men,  of  splendid  physical  appearance,  most  of  whom 
had  been  reared  in  the  rural  districts. 

But  little  need  be  said  of  the  departure  of  the  regiment  from  Binghamton, 
for  similar  scenes  were  at  that  time  occurring  in  many  cities  and  villages  of  the 
state,  as  the  boys  in  blue  marched  from  their  camps  of  organization  to  the 
railroads  for  transportation  to  the  seat  of  war.  These  were  the  times  that 
tried  not  only  men's  souls,  but  with  more  severity  still  those  of  the  gentler 
sex.  Deep  seated  below  the  cheers  and  applause  which  were  given  to  these 
brave  soldier  volunteers  as  they  marched  through  the  streets,  there  was,  in 
many  instances,  the  most  profound  anguish;  for  there  had  been  many  a  sad 
scene  at  the  homes  of  these  enlisted  boys  and  men  when  the  hour  came  in 
which  to  say  good-bye. 

The  regiment  went  by  special  train  to  Washington  via  Elmira,  Williams- 
port  and  Baltimore.  We  were  compelled  to  ride  in  freight  and  on  open  plat- 
form cars;  but  unlike  many  other  regiments  did  not  lose  a  man  by  accident 
on  the  route.  On  reaching  Washington  we  were  ordered  to  Camp  Chase,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  Potomac,  but  before  reaching  the  Long  Bridge  the 
order  was  countermanded,  and  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Frederick,  Md.,  by 
rail. 

We  remember  this  locality  as  our  first  encampment.  It  was  in  a  pasture 
field  about  half  a  mile  from  the  city.  Every  church  and  most  of  the  public 
buildings  were  at  that  time  filled  with  the  wounded  brought  from  the  battle- 
field of  Antietam,  the  fight  there  having  occurred  just  twelve  days  previous 
to  our  arrival  at  Frederick.  On  October  4th  we  moved  to  Pleasant  Valley, 
near  Maryland  Heights,  and  on  the  29th  to  Harper's  Ferry,  where  we  took  the 
Charlestown  Pike  to  Bolivar  Heights,  about  two  miles  distant,  and  went  into 
camp.  We  remained  here  until  the  loth  of  December,  1862.  We  were  not 
far  from  the  enemy's  fines,  and  for  the  first  time  our  men  did  picket  duty  in 
the  face  of  the  enemy,  and  some  of  our  boys,  straying  beyond  the  picket  line 
were  captured  by  Confederate  cavalry  scouts.    While  in  Pleasant  Valley  our 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  937 

regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Twelfth  Army  Corps,  Maj.  Gen.  Henry  W. 
Slocum  commanding.  Our  division  was  the  Second,  under  command  of  Brig. 
Gen.  John  W.  Geary.  Our  brigade,  composed  of  five  New  York  regiments, 
the  Sixtieth,  Seventy-eighth,  One  hundred  and  second,  One  hundred  and 
thirty-seventh,  and  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth,  was  commanded  by  Brig. 
Gen.  George  S.  Greene. 

On  November  9th  we  made  our  first  reconnoissance  into  the  enemy's  lines, 
with  our  division,  to  Charlestown,  Va.,  General  Geary  being  in  command.  The 
troops  were  much  interested  in  the  town  because  of  its  notoriety  as  the  place 
of  trial  and  execution  of  John  Brown.  As  the  regiment  was  marching  by,  the 
writer  rode  his  horse  into  the  Court  House,  up  to  the  judge's  stand,  and  out 
at  the  other  front  door,  much  to  the  amusement  of  the  boys,  but  also  to  the 
unexpressed  indignation  of  the  residents,  who  regarded  the  act  as  one  of 
desecration  to  their  hall  of  justice. 

While  the  troops  were  halted  in  the  main  street  of  Charlestown  another  new 
experience  was  encountered  by  our  regiment.  Some  Rebel  cavalry  had  been 
discovered  by  our  advance,  and  General  Geary  ordered  the  battery  to  shell  the 
woods  to  which  they  had  retreated;  while  the  cannon  were  firing,  an  orderly 
came  riding  rapidly  down  the  line,  giving  the  order  "  Load."  Some  of  us 
will  never  forget  how  the  sound  of  that  order,  given  for  the  first  time  under 
such  circumstances,  stirred  our  emotions.  We  marched  about  four  miles  be- 
yond Charlestown,  driving  the  Confederates  before  us.  Judging  from  the 
appearance  of  their  recently  vacated  camps  their  numbers  were  few.  Having 
accomplished  the  object  of  our  expedition  we  returned  to  camp,  taking  with 
us  some  prisoners,  contrabands  and  beef  cattle. 

The  site  of  our  camp  at  Bolivar  had  been  continuously  occupied  by  Union 
or  Confederate  troops  from  the  very  beginning  of  the  war.  The  result  was  that 
the  soil,  saturated  with  the  germs  of  disease,  made  our  camp  a  pestilential 
one.  Soon  we  were  visited  with  a  grave  and  extensive  epidemic  Of  typhoid 
fever,  and  our  regimental  sick  list  increased  rapidly  until  it  reached  200.  It 
became  necessary  to  send  the  most  severe  cases  to  the  general  hospital  at 
Harper's  Ferry,  where,  on  one  day,  four  of  our  men  died  from  this  disease. 
During  the  last  four  weeks  of  our  stay  at  Bolivar  Heights  there  were  nearly 
400  cases  of  typhoid  fever,  and  scarcely  a  day  passed  without  a  death  in  camp. 

December  2d  General  Greary  took  his  division  out  again.  On  this  occasion 
we  penetrated  the  enemy's  country  as  far  as  Winchester,  being  five  days  on  the 
trip.  The  details  of  this  expedition  would,  if  reported,  be  interesting  but  want 
of  space  forbids  their  insertion  here.  One  incident  the  writer  will  be  par- 
doned for  publishing,  as  he  was  one  of  the  chivalrous  party.  On  leaving  Win- 
chester he  overheard  General  Geary  say  to  General  Greene,  "  Let  the  men 
have  fresh  meat."  The  writer  reasoned  that  if  they  had  fresh  meat  it  must 
needs  be  captured,  and,  spying  a  cow  in  the  streets  as  we  were  marching  out, 
he  tried  to  drive  the  animal  to  the  head  of  our  line;  but  "bossy"  was  not 
disposed  to  join  the  Union  army,  and  so  with  head  and  tail  erect  she  "  bolted," 
and  had  not  reinforcements  arrived  she  would  have  escaped  capture.  But 
Major  Willoughby  and  Chaplain  Washburn,  who  were  also  mounted,  recog- 
nizing the  benevolent  design  of  the  surgeon  galloped  to  his  aid.    The  ,cow 


938  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

surrendered.  The  prisoner  was  escorted  to  the  head  of  the  regiment,  where 
the  boys,  being  experienced  cow-drivers,  took  her  in  charge.  But,  alas!  the 
power  of  example  was  too  well  illustrated;  for  after  that  every  cow  along  the 
side  of  the  road  was  driven  from  her  inclosure  and  added  to  the  number  until 
a  respectable  drove  was  secured.  Yet  even  then  all  would  Have  gone  on  well 
had  not  General  Greene,  unfortunately  for  us,  ridden  back  along  the  line  and  dis- 
covered the  horned  recruits  to  his  command.  The  general  was  a  "West 
Pointer  "  and  a  severe  disciplinarian.  Mortified  and  indignant  at  our  action  he 
ordered  the  animals  liberated,  much  to  the  regret  of  the  boys,  who  already 
were  enjoying  beefsteak  in  anticipation.  We  lost  the  game  but  had  the  name, 
for  the  lieutenant  colonel,  who  was  quite  a  wag,  wrote  home  to  his  good  wife: 
"  Life  in  the  army  is  very  demoralizing,  for  I  have  seen  this  very  day  a  Metho- 
dist class  leader,  a  Presbyterian  deacon,  and  a  Baptist  preacher  steal  a  cow." 
And  the  next  issue  of  the  Richmond  Inquirer  announced  that  "  Border  Ruffian 
Geary  has  been  to  Winchester,  and  has  stolen  the  poor  widow's  last  cow." 

The  regiment  went  to  Bolivar  Heights,  November  ist,  i,ooo  strong;  it 
marched  from  there,  December  loth,  with  650  pale,  jaundiced,  and  enfeebled 
men.  We  left  no  men  in  camp  who  were  too  feeble  to  march,  and  who  were 
transferred  from  there  to  general  hospital  after  the  regiment  had  left.  The 
remaining  survivors  of  the  regiment  were  absent,  sick  in  hospital,  or  had  been 
discharged  from  the  service  direct  from  the  general  hospital.  So  depressing 
had  been  the  influence  of  our  pestilential  camp  that  there  was  scarcely  a  well 
man  in  the  regiment ;  but  on  the  march,  with  better  surroundings,  the  health 
of  the  regiment  rapidly  improved. 

We  marched  with  the  entire  Twelfth  Corps  through  Loudoun  Valley,  Lees- 
burg,  Gum  Springs,  Fairfax  Court  House,  and  on  to  Dumfries.  We  were 
within  twenty-five  miles  of  Fredericksburg,  whence  we  had  heard  the  roll 
of  artillery  the  day  previous  from  the  battle  then  in  progress.  Early  in  the 
morning  of  the  17th  we  received  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  at  a  moment's 
notice,  expecting  that  we  were  to  advance  as  a  reserve  for  General  Burnside ; 
but  it  was  noon  when  the  order  came  to  move.  Then  it  was  to  countermarch ; 
and  it  began  to  be  evident  to  us  that  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  had  not 
resulted  in  a  Union  victory.  We  marched  to  near  Fairfax  Station,  where  we 
made  our  camp  on  the  19th.  The  First  Brigade  of  our  division  was  left  at 
Dumfries  to  hold  the  town.  The  march  to  and  from  Dumfries  to  Fairfax 
Station  was  made  through  the  deepest  of  mud;  the  wagons  mired,  and  the 
animals  becoming  exhausted,  balked.  Our  journey  was  very  slow,  and  we  were 
bespattered  with  mud  from  head  to  foot. 

On  the  27th  we  received  orders  to  move,  and  marched  at  9  p.  m.  The  night 
was  dark  and  the  teams  were  much  delayed.  We  learned  that  the 
enemy  had  attacked  the  brigade  left  at  Dumfries  in  such  force  that 
Colonel  Candy  had  called  for  reinforcements,  and  that  we  were 
being  sent  to  his  relief.  We  crossed  the  Occoquan  River  on  the  28th,  and 
after  marching  some  three  or  four  miles  beyond,  halted  for  dinner.  While 
the  troops  were  resting  General  Slocum  with  his  body  guard  rode  by.  The 
general  halted  a  moment  and  passed  some  words  with  Colonel  Ireland, 
who  was  in  the  rear  of  our  line  of  march.    As  the  general  passed  the  regiment 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  939 

our  boys  all  arose  and  gave  him  three  rousing  cheers,  which,  of  course,  brought 
off  his  hat.  He  was  in  full  dress  uniform,  and  thus  a  shining  mark  for  the 
enemy,  who,  as  subsequent  events  proved,  was  much  nearer  than  we  supposed, 
for  in  a  few  minutes  we  heard  the  crack  of  rifles,  and  the  general  and  his 
staflf  came  galloping  back,  pursued  by  Rebel  cavalry  upon  whom  they  had 
suddenly  and  unexpectedly  ridden.  Instantly  the  order,  "  Forward  1  double 
quick  1"  was  given,  and  the  men  of  our  regiment,  which  was  in  the  advance, 
jumped  upon  their  feet,  slung  their  knapsacks,  capping  their  pieces  as  they 
ran,  and,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Ireland,  went  splendidly  into  line, 
and  hurriedly  through  the  woods  in  the  direction  in  which  the  enemy's  cavalry 
had  retreated.  At  the  same  time  our  artillery  was  placed  in  position  and 
served  with  promptness  and  rapidity.  Afterwards  we  learned  that  the  force 
which  had  been  in  our  front  was  a  small  detachment  of  a  large  cavalry  force 
under  the  command  of  Stuart  and  Fitzhugh  Lee  who,  failing  in  their  attack 
on  Dumfries,  were  now  making  one  of  their  characteristic  raids.  About  an 
hour  before  meeting  us  they  had  encountered  and  overpowered  a  small  force 
of  the  Second  and  Seventeenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  They  crossed  the 
Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad  after  leaving  us,  and  captured  the  telegraph 
operator  at  Bealeton  Station,  and  played  the  "  dickens  "  generally  with  the 
wires,  sending  and  receiving  despatches  from  Washington  and  elsewhere,  after 
which  they  cut  the  wires  and  attempted  to  go  to  Fairfax  Court  House,  but 
were  repulsed  by  the  Vermont  regiments  stationed  there. 

We  arrived  in  camp  near  Fairfax  Station,  December  30th,  and  remained 
there  until  January  19,  1863.  The  promptness,  coolness,  and  efHciency  of  the 
One  hundred  and  thirty-seventh  regiment  on  the  28th,  gave  it  a  reputation 
that  was  never  afterwards  impaired,  but  enhanced  by  further  service  on  more 
important  occasions,  as  its  subsequent  history  will  show.  We  left  camp  at 
4  p.  m.  on  the  19th;  our  regiment  being  rear  guard  was  the  last  to  move.  Our 
course  was  towards  Dumfries,  and  the  second  night  out  we  were  nearly  drowned 
by  a  downpour  of  rain  from  which  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  protect  ourselves 
fully  and   marching  in  the  rain  the  next  day  just  filled  our  cup  of  woe. 

On  reaching  the  dismal  town  of  old  Dumfries  we  found  ourselves  in  even 
a  worse  plight  than  we  were  on  our  former  visit  there.  We  entered  Dumfries 
on  the  2ist,  and  the  following  day  were  ordered  on,  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  the  mud  was  so  deep  in  some  places  that  the  teams  and  the  wagons  were 
almost  submerged.  But  the  orders  from  the  commanding  general  werp  that 
the  wagons  must  go  through,  even  should  it  be  necessary  to  throw  out  every- 
thing they  contained.  These  orders  were  literally  obeyed.  Never  before  did 
the  writer  witness  such  shouting  at,  and  lashing  of  teams  as  took  place  that 
day.  The  men  were  compelled  to  wade  through  the  mud,  and  succeeded  in 
making  but  five  miles  of  progress.  On  the  24th  we  reached  Stafford  Court 
House  where  General  Sigel  had  his  headquarters;  but  his  corps,  the  Eleventh, 
had  received  marching  orders  at  the  same  time  that  we  did,  and  had  gone,  most 
of  them,  to  join  Burnside.  The  next  morning  our  brigade  alone  received 
marching  orders,  the  main  body  of  the  corps  remaining  at  Stafford  Court 
House,  where  General  Slocum  established  his  headquarters.  After  march- 
ing about  seven  miles  we  came  suddenly  in  sight  of  the  Potomac  River  and 


g^o  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

the  mouth  of  Aquia  Creek.  We  encamped  on  a  hillside  just  south  of  the 
railroad,  which  ran  from  Aquia  Creek  Landing  to  Falmouth  opposite  Fred- 
ericksburg. This  railroad  conveyed  all  of  the  supplies  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  February  7th  we  moved  to  a  new  camp  about  half  a  mile  further 
south  on  the  banks  of  tlie  Potomac.  This  camp  was  put  in  excellent  order 
for  winter  quarters.  Log  huts  with  fire-places  and  berths  were  constructed, 
making  the  quarters  quite  homelike.  Just  before  moving  to  this  camp  we 
received  our  first  visit  from  the  paymaster,  who  paid  us,  however,  only  to 
October  31st. 

April  loth  we  marched  to  Stafford  Court  House,  and,  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  were  reviewed  by  President  Lincoln.  The  President  was  accom- 
panied by  Mrs.  Lincoln,  who  rode  in  a  carriage,  and  by  one  of  his  sons,  who 
rode  on  a  small  pony.  After  the  review  the  President  took  the  cars  at  Brooke's 
Station  for  the  Landing,  and  from  there  a  steamer  for  Washington,  midst  the 
screeching  of  steam  whistles,  ringing  of  bells,  etc.  The  visit  of  the  President 
foreshadowed  a  forward  movement;  for  the  next  day,  at  9  a.  m.,  we  heard  the 
roar  of  artillery  and  the  rattle  of  musketry  at  the  front,  both  of  which  increased 
in  volume  for  some  time.  Then  a  courier  rode  rapidly  to  our  brigade  head- 
quarters, and  we  were  ordered  under  arms  and  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's 
notice.  At  last  the  firing  ceased,  but  we  were  kept  in  readiness  to  move  until 
4  p.  m.,  when  we  were  dismissed.  On  the  14th  we  received  orders  to  move. 
The  troops  of  the  entire  army  had  been  provided  with  eight  days'  rations  and 
eighty  rounds  of  cartridges.  We  expected  to  move  9n  the  morning  of  the 
15th,  but  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents  and  in  consequence  we  did  not  move. 
Soon  after  this  we  received  white  stars  cut, out  of  flannel  to  wear  upon  our 
hats  or  caps.  The  star  was  the  badge  of  the  Twelfth  Corps,  and  the  color 
designated  the  Second  Division,  that  of  the  First  being  red.  On  the  2Sth  the 
surgeon  received  orders  to  send  all  that  were  unable  to  march  to  the  corps 
hospital.  The  next  day  we  broke  camp,  and  stopped  for  the  night  six  and 
one-half  miles  northwest  of  Stafford  Court  House. 

On  the  29th  we  crossed  .the  Rappahannock  River  at  Kelly's  Ford  on  a 
pontoon  bridge  laid  by  the  Fiftieth  New  York  Engineers,  and  on  Thursday, 
April  30th,  reached  Chancellorsville,  where  we  lay  for  a  time  in  a  wood  of 
small  growth  trees.  Here  we  started  fire  to  cook  some  fresh  beef,  but  as  soon 
as  the  smoke  arose  the  enemy  sent  shells  whizzing  and  bursting  down  in  our 
midst.  We  promptly  changed  our  bill  of  fare,  put  out  our  fire,  and  many  of 
us  made  a  discovery  that  raw  beef,  well  seasoned,  is  very  grateful  to  the  taste 
of  a  hungry  man.  The  movements  of  the  regiment  the  three  days  following 
may  be  described  by  quoting  briefly  from  the  reports  of  the  commanding 
officers. 

General  Geary  stated  that,  "  The  conduct  of  Greene's  Brigade,  May  ist,  was 
admirable.  Although  exposed  for  quite  a  length  of  time  to  the  fire  of  the 
enemy,  where  they  could  neither  shelter  nor  defend  themselves,  nor  return 
the  assault,  they  bore  themselves  with  the  calmness  and  discipline  of  veterans." 
General  Greene  says  officially:  "  The  One  hundred  and  thirty-seventh  New 
York,  commanded  by  Colonel  Ireland,  displayed  great  coolness  and  good  dis- 
cipline in  all  its  movements." 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  941 

On  Friday  we  accompanied  the  brigade  on  a  reconnoissance,  and  returned 
to  the  position  formerly  occupied  by  us.  At  10  p.  m.  we  received  orders  to 
throw  up  a  small  breastwork  and  cover  the  front  with  abattis.  May  2d  re- 
ceived orders  to  move  out,  but  subsequently  the  order  was  countermanded,  and 
we  returned  to  our  former  position,  where  we  remained  until  Sunday  morn- 
ing, May  3d.  We  lay  in  the  trenches  for  some  time  under  a  heavy  fire  of  shot 
and  shell,  and  then  had  orders  to  march  out  by  left  flank  which  we  obeyed. 
During  the  time  the  regiment  was  under  fire,  the  officers  and  men  obeyed  all 
orders  promptly,  and  manifested  much  coolness  and  bravery.  One  man  caught 
a  shell,  the  fuse  of  which  was  on  fire,  and  threw  it  over  the  breastworks.  The 
loss  of  the  regiment  in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  was  3  killed,  17  wounded, 
and  36  missing, —  the  latter  supposed  to  have  been  captured  by  the  enemy. 
Some  of  the  missing  were  known  to  have  been  Wounded. 

We  returned  to  Aquia  Creek  Landing,  where  we  remained  until  June  13th, 
when  we  broke  camp  and  began  the  march  which  terminated  in  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg.  The  effective  strength  of  the  regiment  present  for  duty  at  that 
date  was  but  525;  deaths,  desertions,  discharges  for  disability,  absence  at  hos- 
pital for  sickness  or  wounds,  details  on  detached  service,  paroled  prisoners,  and 
the  resignations  of  officers  had  caused  this  depletion  of  the  regiment,  so  that 
only  little  more  than  half  of  those  that  went  out  with  us  were  present  for  duty 
eight  months  after  our  organization.  We  passed  through  Stafford  Court 
House,  crossed  Aquia  Creek,  and  once  more  greeted  old  Dumfries.  We  were 
then  marched  to  Fairfax  Court  House  in  such  a  hurried  manner  that  nearly 
one-half  of  our  men  fell  out  from  exhaustion,  and  sixteen  were  so  seriously 
prostrated  it  became  necessary  to  send  them  to  general  hospital  at  Washington. 
We  left  Fairfax  Court  House  on  the  17th,  and  arrived  on  the  21st  at  Edwards 
Ferry,  where  we  bivouacked  on  the  bluff  near  a  pontoon  bridge  that  was  being 
laid  across  the  Potomac  at  that  point. 

Our  regiment  was  the  only  one  assigned  to  the  duty  of  guarding  the  bridge. 
On  the  24th  the  Third  Division  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  came  up  and  remained 
until  night,  when  the  remainder  of  that  corps  having  arrived  they  commenced 
crossing  the  river;  but  it  was  nearly  noon  on  the  25th  when  the  last  of  the 
corps  had  passed  over.  They  were  followed  immediately  by  the  First  Corps, 
which  occupied  all  the  afternoon  in  crossing.  On  the  same  day  we  saw  a  large 
cavalry  force  passing  up  the  Maryland  side  of  the  Potomac.  A  second  pon- 
toon was  thrown  over  the  river,  and  at  3  a.  m.,  on  the  26th,  we  were  ordered 
up  and  crossed  at  5  a.  m.,  accompanying  our  corps.  We  took  the  road  leading 
to  Poolesville,  but  turning  to  the  left  did  not  pass  through  it.  The  next  day 
we  crossed  the  Monocacy  River  at  its  junction  with  the  Potomac.  We 
marched  on  the  tow-path  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal,  which  crosses  the 
river  by  an  aqueduct  bridge.  On  the  28th  we  marched  on  the  road  leading  to 
Frederick,  passing  through  Jefferson,  Centreville,  and  Eagle  Mills. 

While  halted  for  dinner  General  Slocum  rode  by  and  told  Colonel  Ireland 
that  we  had  a  new  commander;  that  General  Hooker  had  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion, and  General  Meade  had  been  placed  in  command.  For  once  it  was 
evident  that  President  Lincoln  had  disregarded  his  expressed  rule  of  action 
"  not  to  swap  horses  while  crossing  a  stream."    On  the  30th  we  crossed  the 


942  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

State  line  into  Pennsylvania,  and  encamped  early  in  the  afternoon  on  the  north 
side  of  Littlestown. 

On  the  morning  of  July  1st  we  marched  to  a  place  on  the  Baltimore  and 
Gettysburg  Pike  called  Two  Taverns,  and  halted  for  dinner.  About  3  p.  m. 
we  heard  the  cannonading  in  our  advance,  and  received  orders  to  move  as 
rapidly  as  possible  in  the  direction  of  the  firing.  The  First  Division  turned 
ofif  to  the  right  and  moved  towards  the  field  of  battle  on  the  east  of  Rock 
Creek,  and  about  4:30  p.  m.  that  division  confronted  Wolfs  Hill,  which  is  east 
of  Gulp's  Hill  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  Rock  Creek.  On  reaching  the 
vicinity  of  Gettysburg  our  division,  the  Second,  was  sent  to  the  left  of  our 
army;  but  before  morning  we  were  moved  to  the  right  of  our  line  on  the  west 
side  of  Rock  Creek,  and  took  a  position  on  the  slope  of  Gulp's  Hill,  facing 
eastward  towards  Rock  Creek.  Here  the  men  threw  up  earthworks  the  best 
they  could  without  intrenching  tools,  and  here  they  remained  until  the  end 
of  the  fight. 

The  breastworks  were  completed  about  noon  of  the  2d  of  July.  From  that 
time  until  4  p.  m.  the  troops  which  had  arrived  were  resting  quietly,  and  all 
was  as  peaceful  and  serene  as  though  there  were  no  war  in  the  land,  when 
suddenly  an  artillery  duel,  the  like  of  which  this  continent  had  never  known, 
burst  upon  us.  Probably  nearly  100  cannon  were  blazing  away,  and  the  roar 
of  the  explosions,  with  the  shrieking  and  whizzing  of  shells,  surpassed  all 
possible  description.  The  Writer  was,  at  that  time,  in  a  position  to  see  all 
along  the  centre  of  our  line,  where  the  artillerymen,  midst  fire  and  smoke,  were 
loading  and  firing  as  rapidly  as  they  could.  All  the  loose  elements  of  the 
army,  sutlers,  hostlers,  visitors,  etc.,  were  scurrying  to  the  rear  as  fast  as  their 
legs  or  horses  could  carry  them. 

General  Greene,  in  his  report  of  the  battle  on  the  night  of  the  2d,  says: 
"  The  First  Division  and  the  First  and  Second  Brigades  of  the  Second  Division 
were  ordered  from  my  right,  leaving  the  intrenchments  of  Kane's  Brigade  and 
Williams'  Division  unoccupied  on  the  withdrawal  of  those  troops.  I  received 
orders  to  occupy  the  whole  of  the  intrenchments  previously  occupied  by  the 
Twelfth  Army  Corps  with  my  brigade.  The  movement  was  commenced,  and 
the  One  hundred  and  thirty-seventh  Regiment  on  my  right  was  moved  into  the 
position  vacated  by  Kane's  Brigade.  Before  any  further  movement  could  be 
made  we  were  attacked  on  the  whole  of  our  front  by  a  large  force,  a  few 
minutes  before  7,  and  the  enemy  made  four  distinct  charges,  which  were  ef- 
fectually resisted.  About  8  p.  m.  the  enemy  appeared  on  our  right  flank  in  the 
intrenchments  from  which  Williams'  Division  had  been  withdrawn,  and  at- 
tacked the  right  flank  of  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-seventh  New  York. 
Colonel  Ireland  withdrew  his  right,  throwing  back  his  line  perpendicular  to 
the  intrenchments  in  which  he  had  been  in  position  and  presenting  his  front  to 
the  enemy  in  their  new  position.  The  officers  and  men  behaved  admirably 
during  the  whole  of  the  contest.  Colonel  Ireland  was  attacked  on  his  flank 
and  rear.  He  changed  his  position  and  maintained  his  ground  with  skill  and 
gallantry,  his  regiment  sufifering  very  severely." 

Colonel  Ireland,  in  his  report  of  the  battle,  thus  alludes  to  the  officers  who 
were  killed;    "  Captain  Gregg  with  a  small  squad  of   men  charged  with  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  943 

bayonet  the  enemy  that  were  harassing  us  most,  and  fell  mortally  wounded, 
while  leading  and  cheering  on  his  men.  Captain  Williams  I  had  thanked  for 
his  coolness  and  courage  but  a  short  time  before  he  fell.  Lieutenant  Van  Em- 
bcrg,  acting  adjutant,  was  everywhere  conspicuous  for  his,  bravery,  and  fell 
while  cheering  his  men.  Lieutenant  Hallett  fell  doing  his  duty."  Our  regi- 
ment's loss  was  40  killed,  87  wounded,  and  10  missing.  The  Confederate  force 
against  which  our  regiment  and  brigade  fought  was  Johnson's  Division  of 
"  Stonewall "  Jackson's  old  corps,  then  commanded  by  General  Ewell. 

In  a  work  published  by  Col.  William  F.  Fox,  entitled  "  Regimental  Losses 
in  the  Civil  War,"  he  states  in  regard  to  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-seventh 
New  York  as  follows :  "  This  regiment  won  special  honor  at  Gettysburg;  then 
in  Greene's  Brigade,  which  held  Gulp's  Hill  during  a  critical  period  of  that 
battle  against  desperate  attacks  of  a  vastly  superior  force.  The  gallant  de- 
fence of  Gulp's  Hill  by  Greene's  Brigade,  and  the  terrible  execution  inflicted 
by  its  musketry  on  the  assaulting  column  of  the  enemy  form  one  of  the  most 
_  noteworthy  incidents  of  the  war." 

General  Geary  reported  that  900  of  the  enemy's  dead  lying  in  our  front  were 
buried  by  our  troops,  and  a  large  number  were  left  unburied,  as  marching 
orders  were  received  before  the  work  was  completed. 

There  was  a  heavy  fall  of  rain  on  the  5th.  The  troops  received  marching 
orders,  and  we  went  as  far  as  Littlestown,  where  we  remained  until  4  a.  m.,  on 
the  7th,  when  we  marched  to  Walkersville,  a  distance  of  twenty-six  miles.  On 
the  8th  we  passed  through  Frederick,  and  halted  for  the  night  at  Jeflferson. 
On  the  way  we  passed  by  a  tree  from  which  was  hanging  by  the  neck  a  Rebel 
spy.  He  was  caught  in  Buford's  cavalry  camp,  getting  information  that  would 
enable  him  to  lead  a  Rebel  force  to  capture  our  supply  train.  Abundant  evi- 
dence of  his  guilt  was  found  upon  him,  and  he  was  promptly  executed.  His 
body  had  been  hanging  for  three  days  and  was  enormously  bloated,  his  face 
presenting  a  horrid  appearance.  Our  boys,  nevertheless,  identified  him  as  the 
fellow  that  visited  our  camp  at  Bolivar  as  a  peddler  selling  song  books,  and 
they  were  so  elated  to  know  that  he  had  at  last  been  detected  and  his  treacherous 
career  brought  to  an  end,  that  they  broke  forth  singing  as  we  marched  by, 
"And  everything  is  lovely  and  the  goose  hangs  high." 

From  Jefferson  we  crossed  South  Mountain  at  Crampton's  Pass.  On  the 
loth  marched  to  Rohrersville,  on  the  nth  to  Fair  Play  and  Jones's  Cross  Roads. 
On  the  I2th  our  regiment  was  sent  out  as  skirmishers,  and  several  batteries 
were  also  moved  out  in  the  direction  from  which  we  heard  cannonading  on 
our  right.  The  troops  and  artillery  were  astir  and  moving  all  night;  trees  were 
cut  down  and  breastworks  built.  At  8  p.  m.,  on  the  13th,  our  line  had  fallen 
back  behind  the  intrenchments  built  by  our  regiment  the  day  previous.  On 
the  14th  received  orders  to  move  at  7  a.  m.,  but  did  not  move  at  all  that  day. 
At  10:30  a.  m..  Generals  Geary  and  Greene  came  riding  by  with  the  news  that 
General  Lee  had,  during  the  night,  crossed  the  river  with  his  entire  army.  On 
the  15th  our  whole  army  was  in  motion.  Our  regiment  marched  fifteen  miles 
and  camped  at  Sandy  Hook,  and  the  next  morning  moved  to  Pleasant  Valley, 
where  we  went  into  camp  about  half  a  mile  from  our  former  camp  in  October, 
1862.    We  spent  the  i6th  in  preparing  pay  and  muster-rolls,  and  on  the  17th 


944  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

crossed  the  Potomac  to  Harper's  Ferry.  We  again  entered  the  Loudoun  Valley 
and  camped  at  Hillsboro,  where  we  remained  until  the  20th.  So  long  a  time 
had  elapsed  since  an  opportunity  had  been  afforded  us  for  taking  a  bath,  that 
we  had  not  only  become  bronzed  by  the  sun's  rays,  but  begrimed  with  dirt, 
while  our  clothing  was  both  ragged  and  dirty.  We  improved  these  few  days 
in  camp  in  a  general  cleaning  up  of  our  persons  and  garments. 

Leaving  Hillsboro  on  the  20th  we  were  constantly  on  the  mov?  until  we 
reached  Warrenton  Junction  the  29th.  We  left  the  Junction  on  the  31st  and 
marched  from  5  a.  m.  until  6  p.  m.,  when  our  brigade  was  detached  from  the 
corps,  the  latter  going  to  Kelly's  Ford,  while  we  continued  our  march  southerly. 
At  9  p.  m.  we  received  instructions  from  General  Greene  to  take  our  regiment 
to  Kemper's  Ford,  while  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  marched  on  to  Ellis's 
Ford,  three  miles  farther  down  the  Rappahannock  River.  We  lay  down  until 
2  a.  m.,  August  ist,  when  we  took  up  our  line  of  march  for  Kemper's  Ford, 
our  camp  being  back  from  the  river  in  a  piece  of  woods.  Our  regiment  here  had 
a  great  amount  of  picket  duty  to  perform,  and  a  large  detail  was  employed  in 
digging  rifle  pits  down  by  the  river  near  the  ford.*  Our  camp  life  at  Kemper's 
Ford  was  uneventful.  The  pickets  of  the  Confederates  were  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  and  ere  long  friendly  communications  were  established  be- 
tween their  pickets  and  ours.  Newspapers  were  exchanged,  and  our  boys 
traded  with  them  coffee  for  tobacco,  until  one  day  they  were  surprised  by  a 
visit  from  General  Geary  who,  in  language  more  forcible  than  elegant,  forbade 
our  boys  fraternizing  any  more  with  the  "  Johnny  Rebs  "  under  penalty  of 
severe  punishment.  On  the  15th  of  September,  1863,  we  struck  tents,  drew 
rations,  and  at  dark  moved  out  of  camp  on  the  road,  and,  marching  all  night, 
arrived  at  Kelly's  Ford  on  the  morning  of  the  i6th.  After  waiting  for  a  pon- 
toon bridge  to  be  laid  we  crossed  the  riyer  and  marched  until  2  p.  m.  On  the 
17th  we  marched  at  7  a.  m.,  and  at  noon  established  camp  in  the  vicinity  of 
Raccoon  Ford  on  the  Rapidan. 

On  the  i8th  our  regiment  witnessed  for  the  first  time  a  military  execution. 
Two  deserters  from  our  division  were  shot.  The  usual  formal  details  were  ob- 
served, and  the  sad  and  terrible  scene  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  who 
witnessed  it.  On  the  march  to  Gettysburg  in  June,  before  crossing  the  Po- 
tomac, three  deserters  from  the  First  Division  were  executed  in  the  presence 
of  the  Twelfth  Army  Corps,  our  regiment  perhaps  alone  excepted,  we  hap- 
pening to  be  in  the  rear  that  day  in  the  line  of  march,  and  these  men  were  exe- 
cuted and  buried  before  our  arrival.  We  saw  their  new-made  graves  as  we 
marched  by.  One  of  these  boys  had  been  pardoned  by  the  President,  but  the 
courier  intrusted  with  the  reprieve  arrived  too  late,  though  his  horse  was 
covered  with  foam  as  he  rode  up  just  after  the  fatal  volley  had  been  fired,  and 
handed  the  order  to  General  Slocum.  We  have  not  here  space  to  give  the 
details  of  this  pathetic  story,  and  of  the  expressed  sadness  of  President  Lin- 
coln, when  he  handed  to  the  grief-stricken  and  waiting  father,  the  despatch 
from  General  Slocum  that  the  pardon  arrived  a  few  minutes  too  late. 


*From  August  7,  1863,  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  the  mustering  out  of  the  regi- 
ment, the  writer  is  indebted  chiefly  tor  all  that  is  hereafter  recorded  to  Rev.  Oscar  L. 
Severson,  Capt.  Wm.  H.  Bristol,  and  to  the  official  records. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  945 

We  took  up  the  line  of  marchfor  Bealton  Station,  on  the  Orange  and  Alex- 
andria Railroad,  on  the  24th  of  September,  where  on  the  28th  we  were  put  in 
ordinary  freight  cars,  with  rough  boards  for  seats,  and  rode  to  Alexandria,  arriv- 
ing there  just  before  dark.  Marching  over  the  Long  Bridge  to  Washington,  we 
remained  there  about  four  hours,  and  then  left  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  passing  through  Harper's  Ferry,  Martinsburg,  Cumberland  and 
Grafton  to  Bellair,  Ohio,  where  we  remained  over  night  Next  morning, 
boarding  the  cars,  we  passed  through  Columbus,  Dayton  and  Indianapolis  to 
Jefifersonville,  Ind.  After  crossing  the  Ohio  River  at  Louisville,  we  took  the 
cars  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  arriving  October  6th,  and  remained  there  until  the  22d. 

The  journey  by  rail  occupied  nine  days,  and  was  perhaps  the  greatest  move- 
ment of  a  large  body  of  troops  from  one  department  to  another  that  was  ever 
made.  The  soldiers  enjoyed  it  greatly,  ndtwithstanding  the  unpleasant  features 
of  being  crowded  in  box  cars  and  cramped  in  uncomfortable  quarters,  for  it 
was  a  blessed  change  from  the  monotony  of  camp  life  and  the  weariness  of 
hard  marches.  But  the  most  cheering  feature  of  the  journey  was  the  cordial 
and  demonstrative  greetings  given  us  by  the  people  all  along  the  route,  both 
by  day  and  by  night.  It  was  a  constant  ovation,  not  of  applause  alone,  but 
what  was  more  substantial  and  still  better  appreciated,  the  unlimited  supply  of 
hot  cofifee,  and  all  kinds  of  choice  food  and  fruits.  The  school  children  gathered 
at  the  station  where  we  were  waiting,  and  sang  patriotic  songs.  It  was  on  the 
eve  of  the  election  in  Ohio,  and  one  of  the  songs  that  seemed  to  be  a  very 
popular  one  with  them  ran  thus: 

"The  Union  forever!  Hurrah,  boys,  hurrah  I 
Down  with  Vallandigham  and  up  with  Johnny  Brough." 

Leaving  Nashville,  October  22d,  we  moved  to  Bridgeport  on  the  Tennessee 
River,  which  we  crossed  on  a  pontoon  bridge.  Marching  oyer  a  spur  of  the 
Cumberland  Mountains  we  entered  a  narrow  valley  called  Lookout  Valley, 
through  which  ran  the  railroad,  then  in  possession  of  the  enemy.  Without 
serious  trouble  we  gained  possession  of  the  mountain  passes  and  railroad.  We 
stopped  for  the  night  at  Shellmound,  visited  Nick-a-jack  Cave,  where  we 
captured  a  few  prisoners  and  destroyed  the  saltpetre  works.  We  resumed  our 
march  around  the  foot  of  Raccoon  Mountain,  and  went  into  camp. 

On  the  28th  we  entered  Lookout  Valley,  with  the  famous  Lookout  Mountain 
before  us,  under  whose  frowning  brow  we  marched  all  the  afternoon.  From 
the  mountain  we  could  see  the  enemy  signal,  notifying  General  Bragg  of  our 
approach.  At  night  we  made  the  usual  camp  fires  to  prepare  a  soldier's  meal, 
and  gave  ourselves  over  to  sleep.  The  enemy  saw  our  camp  fires  from  the 
mountain,  noticed  the  long  interval  between  us  and  the  advance  forces,  and 
resolved  to  make  a  night  attack  and  capture  our  small  brigade. 

At  midnight  our  picket  at  Lookout  Creek  was  surprised  and  captured,  our 
camp  was  alarmed  by  the  firing  on  the  picket  line,  and  we  were  hastily  formed  in 
line  of  battle;  but  as  nothing  further  occurred,  and  quiet  was  restored,  we  were 
permitted  to  lie  down  on  our  arms,  an  order  which  the  men  cheerfully  obeyed. 
But  before  sleep  came,  the  enemy,  who  had  silently  approached  our  camp, 

60 


046  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

guided  by  our  camp  fires,  poured  a  terrific  volley  through  our  line.  In  great 
haste  we  formed  in  line  of  battle  under  a  severe  and  continuous  fire  from  the 
enemy,  who  were  in  our  very  camp,  and  for  three  hours  the  battle  raged  in 
great  fury  in  the  darkness  of  the  night. 

General  Geary  states  in  his  official  report  that:  "The  One  hundred  and 
thirty-seventh  New  York  on  the  left  fought  the  overreaching  right  of  the 
enemy  by  part  of  them  fighting  back  to  back  with  the  other  part; "  and  that 
"  the  Hampton  Legion,  1,600  strong,  had  penetrated  to  the  Kelly's  Ferry  Road, 
about  seventy  rods  to  the  left,  and  while  marching  by  the  flank  was  attacked 
by  two  companies  of  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-seventh,  under  Adjutant  Mix, 
moved  around  at  right  angles,  and  they  were  thrown  in  confusion  by  our 
sudden  assault,  and  the  advantage  on  our  side  being  followed  up,  they  were 
hastily  driven  back,  leaving  a  number  of  killed  and  wounded  in  the  woods  to 
the  left  and  rear  of  our  line."  Colonel  Ireland  who  was  in  command  of  the 
brigade  states  that  "  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  of  the  One  hundred 
and  thirty-seventh  New  York  during  the  action  was  truly  heroic.  They  took 
position  while  under  heavy  musketry  fire,  and  held  that  position  throughout 
the  engagement.  When  the  enemy  attempted  to  turn  their  flank  not  a  man 
wavered,  but  by  steady  and  well-directed  fire  drove  the  enemy  back  at  every 
attempt  they  made  to  charge.  Before  the  close  of  the  action  the  cartridges 
were  all  expended,  but  by  sending  to  the  hospital  and  cutting  the  cartridge 
boxes  from  the  wounded  and  the  dead,  they  had  a  supply  until  the  close  of 
the  action.  When  the  firing  ceased  there  were  but  200  cartridges  in  the 
regiment.  Of  their  bravery  and  good  conduct  during  the  engagement  I  need 
only  mention,  that  of  the  whole  number  killed  and  wounded  in  the  brigade, 
105,  90  were  of  this  regiment;  there  were  none  missing." 

General  Greene  having  been  wounded  early  in  the  fight,  the  command  of 
the  brigade  devolved  upon  Colonel  Ireland.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Van  Voor- 
hees  immediately  took  command  of  the  regiment,  soon  after  which  he  was 
wounded;  but,  notwithstanding,  he  continued  his  duties  as  commander  until 
the  close  of  the  action,  when  Captain  Eldredge  took  command  of  the  regiment. 

An  amusing  incident  occurred  while  the  battle  was  in  progress.  The  sup- 
ply train  was  corralled  in  the  rear  of  our  camp ;  the.  mules  became  panic  stricken 
and  broke  from  their  fastenings,  and  made  a  dash  for  liberty.  The  rattle  and 
clatter  of  itheir  chains,  and  the  noise  accompanying  their  stampede,  struck 
terror  into  the  hearts  of  the  enemy,  who  in  the  darkness  supposed  it  was  a 
heavy  reinforcement  of  cavalry,  and  the  "  Johnnies  "  broke  and  ran  for  their 
lives.  The  quartermaster  subsequently  in  making  his  report  recommended 
that  these  brave  mules  be  breveted  horses  for  gallantry  and  meritorious  ser- 
vices on  the  field  in  face  of  the  enemy.  The  One  hundred  and  thirty-seventh 
Regiment  had  15  officers  and  353  men  present,  and  of  this  number  15  men 
were  killed  and  3  officers  and  72  men  were  wounded. 

Before  daylight  on  the  24th  of  November,  in  company  with  Geary's  Divi- 
sion, we  marched  to  Wauhatchie  Creek,  where  a  temporary  bridge  had  been 
constructed  over  an  old  mill-dam  on  which  we  crossed  and  began  to  climb 
Lookout  Mountain.  Our  regiment  was  in  the  first  line  of  battle,  and  near 
the  centre.   After  the  right  of  the  line  had  reached  a  point  near  the  palisades  on 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  947 

the  top  of  the  mountain,  we  commenced  a  forward  movement,  and  soon  came 
upon  the  enemy,  and  their  first  volley  killed  2  and  wounded  several  of 
our  regiment.  We  then  moved  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible,  which  was 
very  difficult  on  account  of  the  deep  ravines,  large  boulders,  brush  and  briers 
which- obstructed  our  movements;  but  we  moved  faster  than  the  enemy  and 
captured  a  large  number  of  them  as  we  came  to  an  opening  on  the  side  of  the 
mountain. 

Near  the  Craven  House  we  encountered  the  enemy  in  larger  force,  behind 
breastworks,  and  with  two  pieces  of  artillery.  Captain  Eldredge,  who  was 
in  command  of  the  regiment  at  this  time,  gave  the  command,  "  Halt!  fix 
bayonets!  charge!"  which  order  was  quickly  obeyed.  Captain  Eldredge  was 
the  first  man  to  mount  the  works,  followed  by  the  whole  regiment.  We 
captured  quite  a  number  of  prisoners,  swept  the  regimental  flags  over  the 
captured  cannon,  passed  our  prisoners  to  the  rear,  and  hastened  forward  to 
about  five  rods  beyond  the  Craven  House  where  we  found  that  the  enemy  had 
been  reinforced,  and  they  arrested  our  advance.  We  were  relieved  in  the 
afternoon  by  the  Seventh  Ohio,  but  remained  on  the  field  all  night,  and  the 
following  morning  buried  our  dead.  Then,  with  Hooker's  command,  we 
marched  through  Chattanooga  Valley  to  Missionary  Ridge,  and  took  part  in 
its  capture.  We  followed  the  enemy  towards  Ringgold,  and  camped  near 
Peavine  Creek. 

On  the  27th  we  found  the  enemy  in  force  on  Taylor's  Ridge,  just  back  of 
Ringgold,  with  artillery  in  the  gap,  which  was  served  with  destructive  force 
upon  our  advance.  We  were  ordered  to  charge  across  an  open  field  to 
silence  the  battery,  which  we  did,  but  with  a  loss  of  7  men.  We  remained 
here  but  a  short  time  after  driving  the  enemy  from  this  stronghold,  and  then 
returned  to  our  camp  on  Raccoon  Mountain.  These  movements  had  been 
a  severe  test  to  our  endurance.  Starting  out  with  three  days'  rations  in 
cold  weather  and  remaining  six  days,  much  of  the. time  under  great  excite- 
ment, when  reaction  came  on  we  found  ourselves  badly  used  up. 

Captain  Eldredge  commanding  the  regiment  states  officially:  "The  men 
pressing  eagerly  forward  drove  the  enemy  from  their  breastworks,  and  some 
of  our  men  getting  so  near  that  after  firing  their  pieces  they  threw  stones 
at  the  enemy.  Where  all  did  so  nobly,  it  would  perhaps  be  unjust  to  mention 
individual  instances  of  bravery,  but  I  cannot  refrain  from  mentioning  the 
names  of  the  color  bearers.  Jesse  A.  Brink,  Company  H;  John  Barnard, 
Company  D;  and  George  Perkins,  Company  B,  who  have  so  gallantly  carried 
our  flag  always  in  advance.  When  Sergeant  Brink  fell  mortally  wounded, 
Private  George  Perkins  nobly  filled  his  place,  and  carried  the  colors'  until  our 
return  to  camp." 

In  Aprilj  our  corps  number  was  changed  from  the  Twelfth  to  the  Twentieth, 
the  Eleventh  Corps  having  been  consolidated  with  the  Twelfth,  and  General 
Hooker  placed  in  command  of  the  new  corps.  Our  brigade  was  strengthened 
by  the  addition  of  the  Twenty-ninth  and  One  hundred  and  eleventh  Penn- 
sylvania, and  an  additional  division  was  added  to  the  corps,  the  Third,  com- 
manded by  Gen.  Daniel  Butterfield.  Ex-President  Harrison,  then  Colonel 
Harrison,  commanded  a  briga<^e  in  the  Third  Division. 


548  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

We  left  Wauhatchie  January  4,  1864,  and  marched  via  Kelly's  Ferry,  Shell- 
mound,  and  Bridgeport  to  Stevenson,  Ala.,  arriving  there  on  the  7th,  and  re- 
mained there  doing  provost  duty  until  May  2,  1864,  when  we  broke  camp  and 
started  on  the  Atlanta  campaign.  On  the  morning  of  the  15th  we  marched 
towards  the  enemy's  right  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  and  forming  in  columns  of  regi- 
ments slowly  approached  his  works,  being  more  or  less  under  fire.  Our 
regiment  was  formed  on  the  right  of  the  Seventy-eighth  New  York,  and  was 
ordered  by  General  Geary  to  charge  and  carry  a  fort  in  our  immediate  front. 
The  regiment  started,  but  was  ordered  to  halt  by  the  colonel  commanding  the 
brigade.  One  officer  and  5  enlisted  men  were  wounded.  The  enemy  evacu- 
ated at  night,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  i6th  we  marched  to  the  Connesauga 
River  which  was  forded,  the  men  stripping  for  the  purpose.  At  5  p.  m.  we 
reached  the  Coosawattie  River,  and  were  ferried  over  in  two  flat-bottomed 
boats  lashed  together. 

On  the  25th  we  started  at  7:15  a.  m.,  and  after  marching  about  five  miles 
the  head  of  the  column  became  engaged  with  the  enemy.  Three  of  our  com- 
panies were  sent  out  as  skirmishers.  We  advanced  to  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  enemy's  works,  and  were  ordered  to  lie  down  as  we  were  being  heavily 
shelled,  losing  8  men,  wounded.  On  the  15th  of  June,  marched  about  a  mile, 
and  formed  in  line  of  battle.  Our  regiment  was  in  the  second  line,  and  on  the 
right  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  New  York.  We  advanced  slowly, 
keeping  in  supporting  distance  of  the  first  line.  Going  forward  about  a  mile 
over  steep  hills  and  deep  ravines,  mostly  covered  with  woods,  we  approached 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  enemy's  fortifications  when  we  were  marched  by 
the  right  flank  and  became  the  front  line,  where  a  spirited  skirmish  was  going 
on.  Our  regiment  lost  i  killed  and  14  wounded.  On  the  i6th  we  lay  in 
breastworks  which  were  built  before  daylight,  skirmishing  all  day,  losing  i 
killed  and  6  wounded.  On  the  17th  the  enemy  having  evacuated  during  the 
night,  we  started  at  5  a.  m.,  marched  into  their  works  and  made  coffee.  At 
II  a.  m.  moved  forward  a  short  distance,  reaching  cleared  land  and  formed  in 
fine  of  battle,  and  while  taking  our  position  i  man  was  killed  and  another 
wounded.  On  the  21st  we  were  sent  out  on  a  reconnoissance  with  the  One 
hundred  and  forty-ninth,  advancing  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  beyond  the 
line  of  works;  we  lost  2,  wounded.  On  the  22d  moved  forward  with  the  One 
hundred  and  eleventh  Pennsylvania,  and  occupied  the  hill  held  by  the  enemy 
the  previous  day,  losing  i  man  killed,  i  officer  and  2  enlisted  men  wounded. 
On  the  27th,  formed  in  line  of  battle  and  advanced  our  breastworks  one-fourth 
of  a  mile,  and  took  a  position  under  fire;  i  officer  slightly,  and  i  man  severely 
wounded.     Remained  here  until  June  30th,  when  we  were  mustered  for  pay. 

On  the  morning  of  July  Sth,  advanced  in  a  southerly  direction,  halting  at 
5  p.  m.  At  this  point  the  boys  by  climbing  trees  obtained  their  first  glimpse 
of  Atlanta.  At  11  a.  m.,  reached  Peach  Tree  Creek.  On  the  20th  we  were 
aroused  by  a  terrific  attack  of  the  enemy.  We  immediately  fell  in,  and  while 
marching  by  the  right  flank  to  form  on  the  right  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty- 
ninth  we  came  almost  directly  upon  the  enemy's  line  of  battle,  and  received 
a  galling  fire  while  in  that  position.  The  regiment,  however,  held  its  ground 
well,  but  the  right  wing  being  in  a  deep  ravine,  the  position  for  fighting  was  not 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  949 

available.  Consequently,  the  regiment  fell  back  about  300  yards  and  reformed, 
joined  the  brigade,  and  assisted  to  build  temporary  breastworks,  and  this  line 
we  held  until  the  conclusion  of  the  battle.  Loss,  8  killed,  19  vvounded,  and 
3  missing.  On  the  21st,  we  buried  our  dead.  The  following  day,  the  enemy 
having  fallen  back  from  his  line  of  works,  we  marched  to  within  two  miles 
of  Atlanta,  and  halted  at  11  a.  m.  On  the  23d  marched  to  the  left  of  the 
Second  Division,  and  occupied  this  position  until  the  27th,  when  our  line 
being  advanced  nearer  the  enemy  we  moved  in  the  front  line,  our  regiment 
relieving  the  troops  of  the  Third  Division.  We  remained  in  this  position, 
furnishing  3  commissioned  officers  and  about  80  enlisted  men  for  picket  and 
fatigue  duty  until  September  2d,  at  5  p.  m.,  when  we  received  orders  to  move 
forward  towards  Atlanta,  which  had  been  evacuated  by  the  Confederates  during 
the  day.  About  midnight  we  marched  into  Atlanta  with  flying  colors,  band 
and  drum  corps  playing,  thus  ending  a  tedious  campaign  of  four  months,  dur- 
ing which  time  we  had  marched  about  300  miles ;  our  total  loss  was  79.  Offi- 
cers wounded,  2;  men  killed,  12;  wounded,  62;  missing,  3.  Colonel  Ireland, 
who  commanded  the  brigade  from  the  time  of  the  wounding  of  General  Greene 
at  the  battle  of  Wauhatchie,  was  stricken  down  by  disease  and  died  in  Atlanta, 
September  10,  1864,  just  one  week  after  the  occupation  of  the  city  by  our 
forces.  His  body  was  sent  North,  and  buried  in  Spring  Forest  Cemetery  at 
Binghamton,  N.  "Y. 

The  regiment  left  Atlanta  on  the  15th  of  November,  1864,  with  Sherman's 
army,  and  on  that  day  commenced  its  historic  March  to  the  Sea.  The  march 
was  an  uneventful  one,  being  remarkable  for  its  interesting  experiences  in 
foraging  rather  than  in  fighting.  On  reaching  the  Georgia  Central  Railroad 
near  Sandersville,  the  regiment  assisted  in  the  novel  work  of  tearing  up  the 
track,  in  heating  and  twisting  the  rails,  and  in  otherwise  destroying  the  rail- 
road property.  The  division  arrived  in  front  of  the  city  of  Savannah  on  the 
nth  of  December,  and  laid  siege  to  the  place.  Here  we  received  our  first 
mail  since  leaving  Atlanta.  The  city  was  evacuated  by  the  enemy  on  the  21st, 
and  the  White  Star  Division,  to  which  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-seventh 
belonged,  entered  the  city  and  took  formal  possession.  General  Geary  made 
a  very  complimentary  address  to  our  brigade  on  this  occasion,  to  which  Col. 
Henry  A.  Bamum,  who  had  succeeded  Colonel  Ireland  in  his  command,  made 
a  happy  response.  During  this  campaign  the  regiment  lost  i  killed,  8  wounded, 
and  4  missing.  While  at  Savannah,  a  company  of  recruits  which  had  enlisted 
for  one  year's  service,  joined  the  regiment  and  were  designated  as  Company  L. 

Leaving  Savannah,  January  27,  1865,  the  regiment,  under  command  of 
Major  Eldredge,  moved  with  the  corps  on  the  Carolina  campaign,  marching 
northward,  arriving  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C,  on  March  25th.  During  this  march 
the  corps  forded  many  rivers  and  waded  through  swamps;  made  long,  fatiguing 
marches  in  all  kinds  of  weather;  foraged  on  the  country;  skfi-mished  at  times 
with  the  enemy;  destroyed  railroads  at  various  places,  and  experienced  all 
the  hardships  incidental  to  an  active  campaign  in  an  enemy's  country.  The 
corps  was  present  in  the  meantime  and  partially  engaged  at  the  battles  of 
Averasborough  a:nd  Bentonville,  in  North  Carolina. 


950  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

After  encamping  two  weeks  at  Goldsboro  we  resumed  our  northward  ajid 
homeward  march,  passing  through  Appomattox,  Richmond,  and  the  battle- 
fields of  the  Wilderness,  Spotsylvania,  and  Chancellorsville.  At  the  latter  place 
a  detail  was  made  to  bury  our  comrades  who  fell  there  in  May,  1863,  and  whose 
bones  were  found  bleaching  where  they  fell. 

Crossing  the  Rappahannock  at  United  States  Ford,  and  passing  through 
our  old  camp  grounds  at  Fairfax  Station,  we  arrived  at  Alexandria  on  May 
19th.  On  the  24th  we  marched  in  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington,  the  final 
pageant  of  the  war.  The  regiment  was  mustered  out  June  9,  1865,  when  its 
long  and  honorable  service  was  brought  to  a  close,  and  the  scarred  and  sun- 
brcwned  veterans  returned  to  the  quiet  pursuits  of  civil  life. 


,(— 


ti-'!5T 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT. 


F.   J.  iiii.Vh.tkh.ncti.,  I'UUTO. 


140th    new    YORK    INFANTRY. 


On  Little  Round  Top.    In  rear  of  the  monument  is  the  stone  wall,  erected  as  a  breastwork  on  the 

night  of  July  2d. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


951 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Right.) 

140th 

N.  Y.  INFTY, 

3rd  brigade 

2nd  division 

5th  corps. 
JULY  3  &  3, 1863. 


VALOR. 


(Left  Side.) 

Number  engaged,    526 

Casualties 

26  Killed,  89  Wounded 

18  Missing. 

DUTY. 


(Front.) 

PATRIOTISM. 

(Reverse.) 

Col.  Pat'k  H.  O'Rorke 

Killed  July  2,  1863. 

FRATERNITY. 


952  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 
140th  regiment  INFANTRY. 

September   17,   1889. 
Address  by  Lieut.  Robert  J.  Lester. 

Comrades  and  Friends:         •  i 

We  are  here  to  dedicate  a  monument  which  shall  preserve  and  honor  the 
memory  of  our  comrades  who,  in  giving  their  lives  on  this  spot,  gave  the 
supremest  evidence  of  their  patriotism  and  devotion  to  their  country. 

The  great  State  of  New  York  remembers  her  heroes.  Her  citizens  are 
ever  ready  to  honor  the  brave,  and  the  names  of  our  friends  who  fell  on  this 
bloody  field  are  written  on  the  hearts  of  her  people.  These  rest  from  their 
labors.  For  them  no  more  the  weary  march  —  the  nightly  bivouac  —  the 
lonely  watch  of  the  picket;  but  their  works  do  follow  them,  and  in  the  peace, 
the  prosperity  and  security  of  a  united  people  they  have  their  ample  recom- 
pense. Eternal  honor  rewards  duty  well  done.  The  survivors  of  these  battle- 
fields receive  a  just  recognition  from  a  grateful  country.  Honored  in  all  the 
walks  of  life,  they  are  foremost  in  every  patriotic  work,  and  show  in  all  manly 
ways  their  devotion  to  the  flag  and  to  the  living  principles  of  liberty.  The 
veterans  of  the  war  performed  their  duty  as  good  citizens  when  the  country 
called  them  to  arms.  In  peace  they  continue  constant  in  every  work  which 
stands  for  the  honor  and  well  being  of  all  our  people.  Whatever  difference 
of  opinion  may  exist  as  to  the  methods,  the  same  great  purpose  animates  all 
hearts. 

The  soldiers  of  the  war  are  honored  not  only  for  what  they  did  twenty- 
five  years  ago,  but  for  what  they  have  aided  to  accomplish  in  the  years  since 
peace  has  ruled  our  borders.  As  statesmen,  as  scholars,  and  in  all  the  wallcs 
of  lousiness  and  professional  life  they  have  commanded  the  confidence  and 
the  esteem  of  their  fellow  citizens.  Nor  have  they  as  a  class  failed  to  secure 
those  material  rewards  which  are  the  result  of  industry.  The  soldier  in  health 
is  not  a  dependent  on  the  public  bounty.  Less  than  25  per  cent,  of  the  amount 
paid  by  the  national  treasury  for  pensions  is  paid  to  the  survivors  of  the  war. 
Over  75  per  cent,  is  paid  to  the  widows,  orphaned  children  or  dependent 
parents  of  those  who  lost  their  lives  as  a  result  of  service  in  the  field. 

The  veterans  of  the  war  have  shown  the  disposition  and  the  ability  to  make 
their  own  way  in  the  world,  while  at  the  same  time  devoting  themselves  to 
every  patriotic  enterprise. 

Comrades  —  as  we  drop  the  sympathetic  tear  over  the  friends  who  fell  in 
our  ranks  on  this  and  many  other  fields  —  let  us  remember  their  virtues,  and 
emulate  their  patience  and  patriotism,  their  courage  and  self-sacrifice.  Let  it 
be  our  part  to  conserve  and  maintain  what  they  secured  at  such  a  cost.  May 
it  be  our  constant  aim  so  to  live  as  to  honor  our  counlry  and  ourselves,  and 
so  honor  the  cause  for  which  our  brothers  died. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  953 


ADDRESS  BY  LIEUT.  COL.  LOUIS  ERNST. 
Comrades:  | 

I  know  that  you  expect  no  formal  speech  from  me,  but  out  of  the  fullness 
of  my  heart  I  am  glad  to  express  the  feeling  of  profound  gratification  with 
which,!  meet  you,  the  men  of  my  old  regiment,  upon  this  battlefield  and  here 
mingle  my  thoughts  with  yours  as  together  we  remember  the  great  deeds  done 
and  the  sad  losses  suffered  here.  What  a  spot  this  is!  As  I  rode  with  you 
this  morning  about  the  old  field  and  saw  for  the  first  time  the  splendid  monu- 
ments here  erected,  the  thought  came  over  n:e,  what  other  battlefield  in  the 
world  is  like  this?  What  nation  on  the  globe  has 'so  commemorated  the 
achievements  of  its  armies? 

Standing  on  this  spot,  and  by  the  side  of  this  memorial  stone,  our  thoughts 
turn  to  our  brave  comrades  who  fell  here.  Many  good  men  were  lost  on 
that  day,  and  we  are  here  to  unite  in  a  tribute  to  their  memory.  Among 
them  all  there  stands  foremost  in  our  minds  our  young  Col.  O'Rorke,  who 
was  here  cut  off  in  the  flower  of  his  youth.  In  his  memory  and  in  that  of 
all  those  who  here  fell  with  him  we  here  unite  in  these  appropriate  ceremonies. 

I  will  no  longer  detain  you.  Our  comrade  Farley  stands  ready  to  address 
you  more  at  length  upon  the  thoughts  which  now  fill  all  our  minds. 


ADDRESS  BY  CAPT.  PORTER  FARLEY. 
Comrades: 

The  motives  which  have  brought  us  together  spring  from  events  which 
were  momentous  in  our  history  as  a  nation;  which  were  tragic  and  bereaving 
as  they  affected  many  of  us  in  our  social  and  domestic  lives,  and  which  hap- 
pened here  so  long  ago  that  we  now  look  back  upon  them  across  half  our 
lifetimes. 

And  now  that  time  has  made  us  gray,  we  have  made  a  pilgrimage  to  this 
historic  spot,  to  revive  our  memories  of  the  deeds  which  make  it  famous,  to 
evince  our  devotion  to  a  united  country  in  whose  cause  those  deeds  were  done, 
to  honor  the  memory  of  those  whose  lives  here  went  out  amid  the  smoke  of 
battle,  and  upon  this  soil  which  drank  their  blood  to  dedicate  this  monument, 
which  to  our  children's  children  and  to  generations  after  them  shall  stand  to 
mark  the  place  where  our  loved  regiment  rendered  its  great  service  and  suf- 
fered its  most  grievous  loss.' 

On  this  very  spot,  on  Thursday,  the  2d  day  of  July,  1863,  the  One  hundred 
and  fortieth  Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry  met  the  enemy,  and 
after  a  desperate  struggle  stood  fast  upon  this  eminence,  and  here  with  other 
brave  commands  shared  the  honors  of  victory.  It  is  to  commemorate  that 
action  that  we  are  here  to-day. 

Peace  now  spreads  her  sheltering  wings  over  the  broad  valley  which  lies 
before  us.  The  hills  and  woodlands  which  surround  it,  the  farm  houses  which 
dot  its  fruitful  fields,  the  cattle  grazing  in  its  pastures,  and  the  blue  mountains 


954  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

on  its  far  horizon,  all  unite  to  form  a  picture  which  suggests  only  the  quiet, 
the  plenty,  and  the  thrift  of  happy  rural  life. 

How  different  was  the  scene  that  broke  upon  us  that  July  afternoon,  a  quarter 
of  a  century  ago,  when  we  first  looked  across  this  landscape  and  beheld  it 
then, —  a  vision  of  horror,  filled  with  the  smoke  and  carnage  of  battle. 

It  was  the  moment  when  disaster  had  overwhelmed  the  front  of  the  Union 
army.  Sickles'  Corps  was  falling  back,  pressed  by  an  exultant  foe.  A  great 
part  of  it  was  in  dire  confusion.  The  air  was  resonant  with  all  the  dis- 
cordant sounds  of  battle.  Horsemen  and  footmen  and  cannon  in  great  con- 
fusion filled  out  the  foreground  of  the  picture,  as  seen  through  the  clouds  of 
smoke  which  drifted  over  all  the  field.  Little  besides  the  components  of  that 
picture  is  fixed  upon  our  memory,  for  its  movements  were  tumultuous,  and  the 
gHmpse  we  caught  of  it  was  only  momentary.  But  the  recollection  of  the 
scene,  albeft  so  confused,  lingers  like  a  frightful  dream  whose  impressions 
cannot  be  recalled  in  actual  order,  nor  yet  can  they  be  forgotten. 

The  campaign  which  culminated  in  the  great  battle  of  Gettysburg  —  the 
battle  itself,  with  all  its  horrors,  and  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  which  followed 
—  are  subjects  which  might  draw  a  speaker  on  to  endless  lengths.  But  re- 
sisting this  temptation,  we  must  confine  ourselves  to  a  brief  description  which 
shall  chiefly  concern  our  regiment's  own  experience,  services,  and  losses 
upon  the  spot  where  we  now  stand. 

It  would  be  a  satisfaction  to  review  our  regimental  history  during  the  hot 
and  toilsome  month  which  preceded  the  great  battle;  to  retrace  our  itinerary 
and  follow  the  course  of  events  by  which  we  were  led  up  to  the  exciting 
moment  when  the  bullets  of  the  enemy  whistled  through  our  ranks  upon  this 
hilltop.  But  time  permits  me  to  stir  your  memories  of  that  campaign  only 
by  the  mention  of  Falmouth  and  United  States  Ford,  of  Hartwood  Church 
and  Weaversville,  of  Manassas  Junction  and  Centreville,  Bull  Run,  Gum 
Springs,  Aldie,  Leesburg,  Union  Mills,  and  Hanover.  Every  one  of  those 
names  suggest  some  reminiscence.  Every  man  of  you  has  his  story  which 
he  could  tell  about  them.  But  we  cannot  linger  on  the  history  of  those 
marches.     We  will  go  back  only  a  single  day. 

It  was  on  Wednesday,  July  i,  1863,  that  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  began.  At 
4  o'clock,  in  the  morning  of  that  day  we  left  our  bivouac  at  the  village  of 
Union  Springs,  Md.,  and  crossing  the  State  line  marched  that  day  to  Han- 
over. There  we  halted  in  an  open  field  just  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town. 
We  were  resting  there  when  the  rumor  reached  our  camp  that  a  battle  that 
day  had  been  fought  somewhere  to  the  east  of  us,  and  that  General  Reynolds 
had  been  killed.  Orders  to  move  soon  came.  By  6  o'clock  that  evening  we 
were  again  on  the  road,  and  we  were  making  all  possible  speed  towards  Gettys- 
burg. 

We  were  campaigning  under  new  conditions.  It  was  a  novel  experience 
for  us  to  be  marching  through  a  free  State,  and  to  be  greeted  as  friends  by  a 
loyal  people.  You  all  remember  how  the  women  and  children  stood  by  their 
gates  with  an  anxious,  kindly  interest  in  their  faces;  how  the  farmers  served 
us  with  water  and  saluted  us  with  kindly  words.  Darkness  came  on,  but 
we  pushed  forward  till  i  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  we  halted  and  laid  down 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  955 

in  the  dusty  road  at  Bonaughtown,  some  three  miles  east  of  Gettysburg. 
So  tired  were  we  that  sleep  came  upon  us  almost  as  soon  as  we  dropped  upon 
the  ground.  At  4  o'clock  we  were  roused  from  our  heavy  slumbers,  and, 
shaking  off  as  best  we  could  the  drowsiness  which  oppressed  us,  we  moved 
further  westward.  Perhaps  it  was  an  hour  later,  at  all  events  it  was  shortly 
after  sunrise,  when  we  halted,  and  with  the  other  regiments  of  our  brigade 
were  massed  in  close  column  by  division  in  the  rear  of  troops  who  were  de- 
ployed in  line  of  bkttle,  with  skirmishers  advanced.  The  preparations  all 
indicated  a  belief  in  the  near  presence  of  the  enemy  in  force.  The  geography 
of  this  battlefield  was  then  absolutely  unknown  to  us;  but  from  what  we  have 
learned  of  it  since,  it  appears  to  me  that  we  were  then  to  the  right,  or  eastward, 
from  Gulp's  Hill.  It  was  while  waiting  there  that  a  printed  order  was  brought 
to  Colonel  O'Rorke.  He  read  it  and  then  handed  it  to  the  adjutant,  as  they 
both  sat  mounted  in  front  of  the  regiment,  and  told  him  to  read  it  aloud.  It 
was  from  the  general  in  command  of  the  army  and  was  as  follows: 

CIRCULAR. 

"  Headquarters  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
June  30,   1863. 

"  The  commanding  general  requests  that  previous  to  the  engagement  soon 
expected  with  the  enemy,  corps  and  all  other  commanding  officers  will  address 
their  troops,  explaining  to  them  briefly  the  immense  issues  involved  in  this 
struggle.  The  enemy  are  on  our  soil.  The  whole  country  now  looks  anxiously 
to  this  army  to  deliver  it  from  the  presence  of  the  foe.  Our  failure  to  do  so 
will  leave  us  no  such  welcome  as  the  swelling  of  million  of  hearts  with 
pride  and  joy  at  our  success  would  give  to  every  soldier  in  the  army.  Homes, 
firesides,  and  domestic  altars  are  involved.  The  army  has  fought  well  here- 
tofore. It  is  believed  that  it  will  fight  more  desperately  and  bravely  than 
ever  if  it  is  addressed  in  fitting  terms. 

"  Corps  and  other  commanders  are  authorized  to  order  the  instant  death 
of  any  soldier  who  fails  in  his  duty  at  this  hour. 

"  By  command  of  Major  General  Meade. 

"  S.  WILLIAMS,  Asst.  Adjt.  General." 

The  order  was  explicit  that  all  commanding  officers  should  address  theii 
troops;  and  though  doubtless  much  against  his  inclinations,  as  it  was  cer- 
tainly contrary  to  his  habit,  O'Rorke,  for  the  first  and  last  time,  there  addressed 
a  speech  to  his  regiment.  How  well  we  all  remember  him  sitting  there  on  his 
horse  in  front  of  the  regimental  colors.  His  face,  his  form,  his  dress,  all  come 
up  before  us.  His  cheeks  flushed  as  he  spoke,  but  there  was  no  hesitancy, 
and  he  closed  with  the  ringing  words:  "  I  call  on  the  file  closers  to  do  their 
duty,  and  if  there  is  a  man  this  day  base  enough  to  leave  his  company,  let  him 
die  in  his  tracks.  Shoot  him  down  like  a  dog."  The  words  were  those  of  a 
man  who  intended  to  do  his  duty,  and  who  was  equally  determined  that  every 
man  under  him  should  do  his.  The  speech  was  efifective  for  its  purpose  and 
a  murmur  of  approval  ran  through  the  ranks.  The  scene,  the  action,  and  the 
w^rds  were  of  intense  dramatic  interest. 


556  New  York  at  Gettysburg, 

We  soon  changed  our  position,  and  during  the  greater  part  of  the  remainder 
of  that  day  we  lay  with  the  whole  of  our  corps  upon  Powers  Hill,  about  a  mile 
eastward  from  the  spot  where  we  now  stand. 

Throughout  the  day,  the  boom  of  an  occasional  cannon  shot  could  be  heard, 
but  it  seemed  far  away.  Late  in  the  afternoon,  however,  we  could  hear  the 
artillery  in  lively  play  to  our  westward;  but  it  still  seemed  much  more  distant 
than  it  really  was.  The  battle  of  the  day  had  actually  opened,  and  we  were 
soon  set  in  motion  towards  the  high  ground  which  we  could  see  to  the  west- 
Ward,  and  which  in  fact  was  the  very  hill  on  which  we  now  stand. 

The  First  Division  of  our  corps  had  preceded  us,  and  so  had  the  other 
brigades  of  our  division  and  the  other  regiments  of  our  brigade.  It  is  my 
belief  that  we  were  marching  that  afternoon  as  the  rear  regiment  of  the  Second 
.Division.  The  whole  of  our  division,  therefore,  was  passing  along  the  road 
which  crosses  this  ridge  at  the  foot  of  the  northern  extremity  of  Little  Round 
Top;  the  two  leading  brigades  had  become  engaged  in  the  furious  battle  then 
raging  on  the  farther  side;  our  own  brigade  was  crossing  the  ridge,  and  we 
ourselves  had  about  reached  the  point  where  the  railroad  now  crosses  the 
roadway,  when  an  incident  occurred  which  changed  our  line  of  march,  and 
which  proved  to  be  an  important  factor  in  the  result  of  that  day's  battle. 

Just  at  that  moment  our  former  brigadier.  Gen.  G.  K.  Warren,  Chief  En- 
gineer of  the  Army,  with  an  orderly  and  one  or  two  ofHcers,  rode  down  towards 
the  head  of  our  regiment  He  came  from  the  direction  of  the  hill  top,  that  is, 
from  this  point  where  we  now  stand.  His  speed  and  manner  indicated  un- 
usual excitement.  Before  he  reached  us  he  called  out  to  O'Rorke  to  lead 
his  regiment  that  way  up  the  hill.  O'Rorke  answered  him  that  General  Weed 
had  gone  ahead  and  expected  this  regiment  to  follow  him.  "  Never  mind 
that,"  answered  Warren,  "  I'll  take  the  responsibility."  Warren's  words  and 
manner  carried  conviction  of  the  importance  of  the  thing  he  asked.  Accept- 
ing his  assurance  of  full  justification,  O'Rorke  turned  the  head  of  the  regiment 
to  the  left,  and  following  one  of  the  officers  who  had  been  with  Warren,  led 
it  diagonally  up  the  eastern  slope  of  Little  Round  Top.  Warren  rode  off 
evidently  bent  on  securing  other  troops.  The  staflf  officer  who  rode  with  us, 
by  his  impatient  gestures  urged  us  to  our  greatest  speed.  You  will  remember 
how  some  of  the  guns  of  Hazlett's  Battery  broke  through  our  files  before  we 
reached  the  top,  and  the  frantic  efforts  of  the  horses,  lashed  by  the  drivers,  to 
pull  their  heavy  pieces  up  that  steep  acclivity.  A  few  seconds  later  the  head 
of  our  regiment  reached  the  summit  of  the  ridge;  war's  wild  panorama  spread 
before  us,  and  we  found  ourselves  upon  the  verge  of  battle. 

It  was  a  moment  which  called  for  leadership,  and  we  are  here  to-day  the 
witnesses  of  the  manner  in  which  that  leadership  was  fulfilled.  There  was 
no  time  for  tactical  formation.  Delay  was  ruin.  Hesitation  was  destruction. 
Well  was  it  for  the  cause  he  served  that  the  man  who  led  our  regiment  that 
day  was  one  prompt  to  decide  and  brave  to  execute. 

The  bullets  flew  in  among  the  men  the  moment  the  leading  company 
mounted  the  ridge,  and  as  not  a  musket  was  loaded  the  natural  impulse  was 
to  halt  and  load  them.  But  O'Rorke  permitted  no  such  delay.  Springing 
from  his  horse,  he  threv;  his  reins  to  the  sergeant  major;  his  sword  flashed 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  957i 

from  its  scabbard  into  the  sunlight,  and  calling,  "  This  way,  boys,"  he  led  the 
charge  over  the  rocks,  down  this  hillside,  till  he  came  abreast  the  men  of 
Vincent's  Brigade,  who  were  posted  in  the  ravine  to  the  left.  Joining  them 
an  irregular  line  was  formed,  such  as  the  confusion  of  the  rocks  lying  there- 
about permitted,  and  this  line  grew  and  was  extended  towards  the  right  as  the 
successive  rearward  companies  came  upon  the  scene  of  action.  There,  while 
some  were  partly  sheltered  by  the  rocks  and  others  stood  in  the  open,  a  fierce 
fight  went  on  with  an  enemy  among  the  trees  and  underbrush.  Flushed 
with  the  excitement  and  bravely  led,  they  pushed  up  close  to  our  line.  Tlie 
steadfastness  and  valor  displayed  on  both  sides  made  the  result  for  some 
minutes  doubtful;  but  a  struggle  so  desperate  and  bloody  could  not  be  a 
long  one.  The  enemy  fell  back;  a  short  lull  was  succeeded  by  another  on- 
slaught, which  was  again  repelled. 

The  story  has  been  told  in  print  that  our  colonel  led  with  the  regimental 
colors  in  his  own  hands;  and  that  the  men  followed  him,  and  with  clubbed 
muskets  beat  back  the  enemy.  Such  fictions  provoke  a  smile,  and  are  men- 
tioned only  to  contradict  them.  O'Rorke  carried  only  his  sword,  and  you 
carried  your  muskets  grasped  by  the  butts  and  not  by  the  barrels.  History 
should  record  the  truth  without  exaggeration.  And  this  is  the  truth  of  the 
matter:  that  as  the  regiment  came  over  the  ridge  its  muskets  were  empty, 
and  its  leading  companies  rushed  down  the  hill  to  meet  the  enemy  without 
firing  a  shot.  It  was  only  when  you  came  abreast  the  men  of  Vincent's  Brigade 
near  the  foot  of  the  hill  that  you  had  time  to  load  and  return  the  fire  which 
spit  a  deadly  fusillade  from  tlie  woods  before  you.  Those  woods  seemed  to 
swarm  with  the  g^y-coated  crowd.  The  enemy  had  almost  enveloped  Vin- 
cent, and  had  nearly  seized  this  vantage  ground  on  whiqh  we  stand.  Vincent's 
men,  who  for  some  minutes  had  maintained  the  fight,  were  outnumbered  and 
outflanked.  Reinforcement  was  never  more  opportune.  The  arrival  of  the 
One  hundred  and  fortieth  Regiment  at  that  crucial  moment  saved  Little  Round 
Top;  and  a  glance  at  the  surrounding  topography  carries  conviction  as  to  the 
supreme  value  of  its  possession. 

While  our  regiment  fought  in  the  valley,  the  guns  of  Hazlett's  Battery 
thundered  from  this  hilltop,  and  its  discharges  swept  the  hostile  lines  which 
had  forced  back  Sickles'  corps;  so  that  by  the  time  our  regiment's  fighting 
was  over,  not  a  battalion  of  the  enemy  remained  in  sight  upon  the  opposite 
ridge,  which  had  been  the  scene  of  that  afternoon's  chief  battle. 

Such,  briefly  told,  was  the  struggle  for  the  possession  of  this  hilltop. 

When  that  struggle  was  over,  the  exultation  of  victory  was'  soon  chilled  by 
the  dejection  which  oppressed  us  as  we  counted  and  realized  the  cost  of  all 
that  had  been  won.  Of  our  regiment,  85  enlisted  men  and  6  officers  had  been 
wounded.  Two  of  these  officers,  Lieuts.  Hugh  McGraw  and  Charles  P.  Klein, 
were  fatally  hurt.  Besides  these,  26  of  the  comrades  who  had  marched  with 
us  that  afternoon  had  fallen  dead  before  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  Grouped  by 
companies,  a  row  of  inanimate  forms  lay  side  by  side  beneath  the  trees  upon 
this  eastern  slope.  No  funeral  ceremony,  and  only  shallow  graves  could 
be  accorded  them.  In  the  darkness  of  the  night,  silently  and  with  bitter  de- 
jection, each  company  buried  its  dead. 


g^8  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Among  the  slain  was  one  whose  loss  lay  heavy  on  the  heart  of  every  one  of 
us.  Your  thoughts  anticipate  his  name.  The  artist's  hand  has  reproduced 
his  features,  and  his  efifigy  upon  this  cenotaph  now  calmly  gazes  upon  us,  and 
for  years  to  come  shall  remain  the  testimony  to  all  who  come  this  way  of  the 
admiration  and  the  love  which  this  regiment  accorded  him.  O'Rorke  was 
among  the  dead.  Shot  through  the  neck,  he  had  fallen  without  a  groan,  and 
we  may  hope  without  a  pang.  The  supreme  effort  of  his  life  was  consummated 
by  a  death  heroic  in  its  surroundings  and  undisturbed  by  pain. 

The  spot  on  which  he  died  is  a  most  fitting  place,  and  this  circle  of  his 
comrades  the  most  fitting  presence  in  which  to  utter  that  tribute  to  his  memory, 
which  by  grace  of  character,  by  natural  talent,  and  by  studious  culture,  he  so 
truly  deserves.  To  me  ha  was  as  an  elder  brother  beloved;  and  though  since 
that  time  Death  has  struck  near  and  hard  upon  my  heart,  he  had  never  before 
struck  so  near  as  that  July  afternoon,  when  I  looked  down  upon  the  placid 
features  of  O'Rorke's  dead  face  and  felt  that  he  had  gone  from  me  forever. 
Twenty-six  years  have  passed,  and  time  has  tempered  the  grief  which  his 
death  brought  into  our  hearts;  but  we  shall  always  cherish  his  memory  with 
a  loving  regard  and  admiration,  which  only  a  noble  nature  could  inspire. 
We  have  known  many  men  since  the  day  he  died.  Let  each  of  us  recall  the 
list  of  those  whose  qualities  have  most  attracted  his  regard.  Has  there  been 
one  among  them  who  possessed  combined,  the  grace  of  form  and  carriage,  the 
modesty,  the  purity  and  honesty  of  character,  the  amiable  temper,  the  in- 
tellectual force,  the  commanding  influence  over  others,  the  knightly  accom- 
plishments of  his  profession,  and  above  all,  the  proved  courage  of  Col.  Pat. 
O'Rorke,  who  here  died  at  the  head  of  his  regiment?  For  myself  I  must  say 
that  I  have  never  known  one  whose  personality  was  so  symmetrically  developed, 
one  so  free  from  blemish,  one  who  so  well  exemplified  the  ideal  soldier  and 
man. 

"  He  was  a  very  perfect,  gentle  knight" 

This  cenotaph  is  a  memorial  of  all  our  comrades  who  died  in  this  great 
battle;  but  by  the  united  wish  of  all  of  us  who  survived,  it  bears  the  face  and 
name  of  the  man  whom  we  all  most  delighted  to  honor. 

A  visit  to  this  field  cannot  be  regarded  as  a  mere  holiday  excursion.  It 
recalls  the  most  dreadful  recollections ;  it  suggests  the  most  serious  thoughts. 
To  us  living  in  these  peaceful  times  and  standing  in  this  now  peaceful  spot,  the 
tragedy  which  for  three  days  was  enacted  here,  viewed  through  the  vista  of  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  seems  like  a  dreadful  nightmare.  Though  it  was  so 
real,  so  impressive,  so  fraught  with  excitements  and  filled  with  scenes  so  sur- 
prisingly beyond  any  we  have  ever  witnessed,  either  before  or  since,  it  never- 
theless seems  after  this  lapse  of  years  to  be  invested  with  a  haze  which  casts 
upon  the  picture  as  we  reproduce  it  in  our  memory,  a  semblance  of  unreality, 
which  almost  makes  us  doubt  our  waking  senses,  and  we  ask  ourselves,  "  Can 
these  things  have  really  happened?  " 

Our  experience  in  the  war  taught  us  many  lessons.  In  it  we  learned  the 
duty  of  obedience,  the  strength  which  Ues  in  discipline  and  in  organization,  the 
recognition  of  those  qualities  in  men  which  fit  them  for  leadership  and  com- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  959 

mandi  These  were  some  of  our  many  lessons.  But  above  all,  we  learned 
to  value  rightly  the  blessings  of  Peace.  The  old  volunteer  soldiers,  who  are 
living  in  these  days,  are  the  men  of  peace.  If  the  shaping  of  our  nation's 
policy  were  to  be  intrusted  to  those  who  actually  fought  in  the  ranks,  and 
who  carried  the  sword  of  command  upon  the  battlefields  of  the  Rebellion, 
Jingoism  would  be  voted  down  in  their  councils.  Should  invasion  threaten, 
or  a  just  war  call  again  for  patriotic  service,  no  class  of  citizens  would  so 
promptly  rally  to  the^front  as  they.  But  they  know  the  dread  horrors  of  the 
business,  and  their  influence  is  a  potent  factor  in  the  consensus  of  our  national 
life,  which  works  in  favor  of  that  justice  in  national  policy,  which  diminishes 
the  danger  of  internal  disturbance  and  of  external  aggression.  A  fervent 
"  amen  "  is  the  response  which  goes  up  from  them  in  answer  to  the  sentiment 
of  the  greatest  captain  of  the  war,  who  gloriously  closed  his  military  career 
with  the  benignant  utterance  "  Let  us  Have  Peace." 


q6o  New  York  at  Gettysbueg. 


(INSCRIPTIONS.). 


(Front.) 

145th  N.  Y.  INFY. 

1st  brig.  1st  Div. 

12th  corps. 

JULY  2,  3,  1863. 

(Reverse.) 

Casualties 

Killed  i.  Wounded  9 

Total  Loss  10. 


J.   K.   LYON   I'RINT, 


145th    new   YORK    INFANTRY. 
On  Gulp's  Hill,  southeasterly  slope ;  line  of  McDougairs  Brigade,  Twelfth  Corps 


F.    J.   SKVKKBMCE,  PHOTO. 


^Jew  York  at  Gettysburg.  961 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 
145th  regiment  INFANTRY. 

July  3,   1890. 

Oration  by  Col.  Edward  L.  Price. 

Comrades  and  Countrymen: 

On  this  day  twenty-seven  years  since,  we  trod  as  soldiers  of  the  Union  what 
was  then  a  bloody  battlefield.  On  this  d^y,  twenty-seven  years  after,  we  stand 
upon  what  is  now  a  field  of  peac^,  only  disturbed  by  the  scenes  of  the  past 
which  its  sight  recalls  to  memory.  Here  we  stand,  thankful  to  God  that  so 
many  of  us  survive,  but  still  more  thankful  that  the  seed  planted  here  in  blood 
has  grown  to  a  goodly  tree,  and  that  after  the  strife  of  brothers  all  are  gathered 
again  under  the  old  flag  with  a  friendship  made  still  stronger  through  the 
blood  of  friends  and  foes. 

As  we  stand  here  and  look  at  well-remembered  points  how  the  facts  come  to 
us!  What  privations  and  sufferings  calmly  and  heroically  endured  return  to 
memory!  What  patriotic  duty  gallantly  done  rises  up  again!  What  scenes, 
where  the  brave  face  danger  without  fear  and  meet  death  without  repining, 
open  again  before  us!  And  all  this  not  for  glory  only  (though  he  is  a  dull 
clod  who  is  not  stirred  by  a  noble  ambition),  nor  through  avarice,  for  the 
price  of  danger  and  death  is  not  to  be  balanced  by  gold;  nor  through  malice, 
for  we  hated  the  cause  they  upheld  on  their  bayonets  and  not  the  men  we 
fought;  but  that  the  federal  constitution  made  by  our  forefathers,  creating 
a  perpetual  Union,  decreeing  the  liberty  of  the  citizen  and  the  autonomy  of 
the  states,  might  be  preserved  for  us  and  for  our  descendants  through  the 
coming  countless  years. 

It  needs  no  orator,  comrades,  to  recite  the  deeds  and  picture  the  scenes  of 
the  decisive  fight  —  the  key-battle  of  the  unhappy  war  —  which  took  place 
here.  It  would  be  idle  to  paint  for  you  a  panorama  of  which  you  were  part  of 
the  moving  pictures,  or  to  reproduce  a  fragment  of  history  which  you  aided 
to  make.  The  battle  was  the  turning  point,  and  is  its  own  panegyric.  Up  to 
that  time  there  was  doubt  mixed  with  hope  on  both  sides.  The  scales  hung 
nicely  balanced  in  the  hand  of  the  Fates;  but  when,  after  the  repulse  of  Pickett's 
gallant  and  desperate  charge,  the  skilled  leader  of  the  foe  retreated  with  his 
baffled  and  bleeding  braves,  fear  and  doubt  were  with  the  enemy  and  hope 
and  confidence  with  us.  The  triumph  of  the  Union  was  a  foregoije  conclusion, 
and  all  that  followed  Gettysburg  were  the  necessary  forms  of  a  predetermined 
triumph  of  the  constitution  and  the  laws. 

Nor  is  it  for  us  here  to  laud  our  own  heroism,  to  vaunt  our  sacrifices,  or  to 

call  on  men  to  praise  the  patriotism  which  moved  us  in  those  days  of  blood 

and  steel.     The  country  had  done  that.     The  grand  and  imperial  State   of 

New  York  recognizes  these  things  by  the  monument  here  erected  in  honor  of 

■  our  comrades,  which  we  dedicate  to  their  memory  to-day. 

But,  ah!  That  is  not  all  the  monument  to  the  heroic  deeds  of  those  who 
sleep  around  us.     Long  after  the  bones  of  our  once  dear  comrades  shall  have 

6i 


062  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

mouldered  to  dust,  long  after  the  splendid  token  of  a  great  State's  gratitude 
shall  have  fallen  to  fragments  under  the  blows  of  time,  history  will  record  the 
doings  on  this  field,  and  the  proudest  monument  will  be  the  peace,  prosperity 
and  progress  of  the  United  States,  and  the  renewed  and  strengthened  friend- 
ship and  brotherly  love  of  their  people. 

Yes,  comrades,  brotherly  love.  When  we  fought  in  the  past,  it  was  with 
no  personal  hatred,  but  through  a  sense  of  duty;  and,  now,  in  dedicating  this 
monument,  we  do  it  without  rancor,  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  great 
fight  which  marked  the  stoppage  of  the  ebb  tide  of  conflict,  and  its  turn  here 
to  the  flood  of  triumph.  Here  it  was,  amid  the  roar  of  cannon,  the  rattle  of 
musketry  and  the  clash  of  steel,  that  the  phantom  of  a  Southern  Confederacy 
vanished  into  thin  air  and  was  seen  no  more.  Here,  to  secure  this  end,  10,000 
men  —  parts  of  as  noble  a  manhood  as  the  world  ever  saw  —  "Friend  and 
foe  in  wild  confusion  blent "  —  gave  up  their  lives. 

No  one,  when  this  battle  began,  knew  its  result.  Both  sides  hoped,  both 
sides  doubted;  but  both  determined  to  do. 

Ah,  we  had  foemen  worthy  of  our  steel!  The  more  honor  to  those  who 
won!  They  had  not  to  course  with  hares,  but  to  wrestle  with  lions.  The 
flower  of  the  Southern  chivalry  grappled  with  the  Bayards  of  the  North.  It 
was  a  three-days'  fight  of  giants,  and  the  waves  of  battle  surged  and  the 
columns  dealt  deadly  blows,  or  reeled  under  fierce  shocks. 

The  final  result  was  known  only  to  the  God  of  battles.  And  when  the  third 
day  closed  in  blood,  we  knew  not,  what  God  only  knew,  that  we  had  won  and 
that  the  morrow's  morning  sun,  rising  on  the  anniversary  of  our  independence 
as  a  people,  would  rise  also  on  a  victory  which  would  again  establish  that 
union  of  the  states,  that  can  alone  make  that  independence  secure. 

Ah,  comrades,  as  you  stand  before  this  token  of  the  gratitude  and  good 
feeling  of  the  great  State  under  whose  banner  you  served,  as  well  as  under  the 
flag  of  the  Union  of  which  it  is  a  part,  dismiss  the  darker  part  of  the  past 
before  the  light  of  the  glorious  future.  Be  proud  that  65,000,000  of  people  now 
partake  of  the  blessings  you  fought  to  secure.  Admire  the  Supreme  Wisdom 
that  bade, you  build  "wiser  than  you  knew."  You  fought  for  the  Union;  but 
you  were  the  North  and  a  section,  and  while  you  fought  for  the  Union,  were 
necessarily  partisan;  for  the  South  was  against  the  Union. 

The  war  is  over;  and  now  you  see  that  by  the  kind  dispensation  of  the 
Supreme  Power  you  won  not  only  a  stronger  Union  but  a  new  prosperity  for 
the  South  as  well.  The  shackles  of  the  slave  were  shackles  on  the  master. 
In  breaking  these  you  have  emancipated  all.  The  South  feels  the  blood  of 
a  new  youth  coursing  through  its  veins.  The  sleeping  giant  there  has 
awakened.  Where  labor  was  formerly  evaded,  toil  is  alive.  The  South  gives 
forth  its  long-locked  treasures  to  enterprise.  Where  silence  reigned  formerly, 
there  comes  the  hum  of  the  mills  and  the  clang  of  forges.  The  new  Soutli 
under  the  Union  which  you  aided  to  preserve,  is  marching  to  a  golden  goal 
of  prosperity.  And  this  good,  which  as  part  of  the  Union  the  North  shares, 
was  not  proposed  by  man,  but  disposed  by  a  higher  power. 

You  did  not  toil  in  vain,  comrades,  nor  did  those  whose  revered  bones 
moulder  in  this  sacred  soil  part  with  their  lives  for  naught.    You  secured 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  963 

blessings  for  friend  and  foe  alike;  bfessings  for  the  whole  country,  not  a  sec- 
tion. And  here  to  this  field  shall  come  year  after  year  your  descendants  and 
those  of  others;  and  the  same  of  those  who  fought  you,  honoring  thereby 
more  the  courage  of  their  sires.  They  shall  learn  also  to  be  proud  of  the 
patriotism  of  the  army  of  the  Republic,  the  results  of  whose  achievements  shall 
be  theirs  not  less  than  yours ;  for  from  this  day  twenty-seven  years  since,  dates 
the  solidification  as  well  as  security  of  a  Union  of  hearts  as  well  as  hands;, 
the  supremacy  of  the  national  government  where  the  consititution  makes  it 
supreme;  the  preservation  of  the  reserved  powers  of  the  States;  and  above- 
all,  the  maintenance  of  the  freedom  of  the  individual  in  the  pursuit  of  progress,, 
prosperity  and  happiness. 

To  the  dead  who  sleep  here,  comrades,  a  memory  ever  green;  to  the  living 
who  profit  by  their  death,  a  glorious  future.  To  the  gallant  McDougall  who 
headed  yoitr  brigade,  to  Williams  who  led  your  division,  to  Slocum  who 
commanded  your  army  corps,  and  to  Meade,  the  chief  of  all, —  the  libation  of 
your  tears.  Not  to  perpetuate  bitterness,  not  in  rancor,  but  to  honor  patri- 
otism with  courage  —  is  this  monument  unveiled  to  the  light  of  day. 

Comrades,  survivors  of  the  fray!  We  celebrate  the  Uniop,  the  States,  and 
the  People  —  one  and  the  same,  now  and  forever. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH, 

By  Philip  S,  Clark,  President  i4Sth  N.  Y.  V.  Veteran  Association. 

The  One  hundred  and  forty-fifth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry, 
was  raised  in  New  York,  Richmond  and  Suffolk  counties.  It  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service  at  New  Dorp,  Staten  Island,  on  September  11, 
1862,  and  started  for  Washington,  D.  C,  on  September  25th  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieut.  Col.  Ole  P.  H.  Balling.  On  arriving  at  Washington  the  regi- 
ment was  reviewed  by  President  Lincoln. 

On  September  28th  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Frederick  City,  Md.,  and 
from  there  to  Pleasant  Valley.  After  camping  for  a  few  days  in  the  Valley  it 
proceeded  to  Bolivar  Heights  and  went  into  camp,  where  it  was  assigned  to 
Kane's  Brigade,  Geary's  Division,  Banks'  Corps.  While  encamped  on  Bolivar 
Heights  the  One  hundred  and  forty-fifth  made  frequent  reconnoissances  up 
the  Shenandoah  River  and  to  Winchester,  Va.  Early  in  December,  1862,  the 
regiment  marched  to  Stafford  Court  House  where  it  went  into  winter  quarters. 
At  that  place  it  was  transferred  to  the  First  Brigade,  First  Division,  Twelfth 
Army  Corps,  and  was  joined  by  Col.  E.  Livingston  Price,  now  of  Newark, 
N.  J.,  as  its  colonel. 

In  the  latter  part  of  April,  1863,  the  regiment  left  camp,  and  marched  to  the 
Rappahannock  River,  which  it  crossed  by  wading,  and  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Chancellorsville,  where  it  left  i  officer  and  5  enlisted  men  killed,  and  a 
large  number  missing,  of  whom  many  were  never  heard  from  afterwards, 
having  evidently  been  killed  or  mortally  wounded  and  not  identified. 

On  May  5,  1863,  the  One  hundred  and  forty-fifth  recrossed  the  river  and 
marched  back  to  its  old  camp  at  Stafford  Court  House,  where  it  remained 


964  New  York  at  Gettysburg, 

until  the  corps  started  on  the  march  which  ended  in  the  battle  at  Gettysburg. 
The  regiment  arrived  on  this  field  late  in  the  afternoon  of  July  ist,  and  was 
placed  in  position  on  the  slope  of  Gulp's  Hill,  near  Spangler's  Spring,  where 
it  assisted  in  throwing  up  the  breastworks  on  that  line.  On  th«  afternoon  of 
the  second  day  the  One  hundred  and  forty-fifth,  with  the  rest  of  the  division, 
was  ordered  to  the  left  to  the  support  of  General  Sickles'  Corps,  but  arrived 
too  late  to  take  an  active  part  in  repulsing  the  enemy  in  his  attack  on  that 
part  of  the  line. 

On  returning  late  that  night  to  its  old  position  on  the  right,  it  found  its 
works  occupied  by  the  enemy  who,  taking  advantage  of  the  absence  of  the 
division,  had  taken  possession  and  opened  fire  upon  the  troops  as  they  re- 
turned. The  regiment  halted  and  bivouacked  for  the  night.  At  daylight, 
on  the  3d,  the  regiment  assisted  in  driving  out  the  enemy,  and  reoccupied  its 
line  about  11  o'clock,  a.  m.,  losing  i  killed  and  9  wounded,  of  whom  2  sub- 
sequently died  of  their  wounds  and  were  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Gettysburg. 

On  the  retreat  of  Lee's  army  the  One  hundred  and  forty-fifth  accompanied 
the  corps  in  its  pursuit  of  the  Confederates  into  Virginia,  and  went  into 
camp  at  Raccoon.  Ford  on  the  Rapidan  River.  It  remained  there  until  Sep- 
tember 23,  1863,  when  the  corps  was  detached  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
and  ordered  to  Tennessee.  On  its  arrival  in  Tennessee  the  regiment  was 
placed  on  guard  duty  on  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railroad,  with  head- 
quarters at  Tantalon,  where  it  remained  until  December  9,  1863.  Its  organi- 
zation was  then  discontinued,  and  Companies  B,  C,  G,  I  and  K,  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  One  hundred  and  seventh  Regiment;  Companies  E  and  H  to 
the  One  hundred  and  twenty-third  Regiment,  and  Companies  A,  D  and  F,  to 
the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers. 

The  subsequent  history  of  these  regiments  is  the  history  of  the  men  of  the 
One  hundred  and  forty-fifth.  The  good  service  rendered  by  them  is  attested 
by  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Col.  A.  B.  Smith,  of  the 
One  hundred  and  fiftieth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  dated  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y.,  July  14,   1893: 

"  About  100  as  good  men  as  ever  went  to  the  war  came  to  us  from  your  regi- 
ment.'' 

Also,  from  a  letter  from  Surg.  John  J.  H.  Love,  Thirteenth  New  jersey, 
dated  Montclair,  N.  J.,  November  28,  1889: 

"  The  official  records  speak  in  a  very  creditable  manner  of  the  fighting 
qualities  of  the  men  of  your  regiment,  and  uniformly  bear  witness  to  their 
good  conduct  in  the  Atlanta  campaign." 

The  men  who  were  thus  transferred  from  the  One  hundred  and  forty-fifth 
retained  their  corps  badge, —  the  red  star  of  Williams'  Division,  with  which 
famous  command  they  participated  in  the  bloody  battles  of  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea,  the  siege  of  Savannah,  and  the  battles  of 
Slocum's  army  in  the  final  campaign  in  the  Carolinas.  In  the  One  hundred 
and  seventh  New  York  it  was  often  remarked  that,  of  the  large  number  of 
casualties  sustained  by  that  regiment  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  the  transferred 
men  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-fifth  sufifered  more  than  their  share,  a 
strange  fatality  seeming  to  pursue  them  in  this  respect. 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT. 


F.  J.  SEVEKENCE,  PttOTO. 


146th    new  YORK    INFANTRY. 

On  Little  Round  Top,  line  of  Weed's  Brigade,  Fifth  Corps 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  965 

(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 
146th  new  YORK  INFANTRY 

(5th  ONEIDA) 

3d  brigade,  2d  DIVISION, 

5th  corps. 


COL'S  GARRARD,  JENKINS,  GRINDLAY. 

(Reverse.) 

July  2  and  3,  1863 

Casualties 

Killed  4 

Wounded    24 

(Right  Side.) 
Engaged  in 
23  Battles. 
Thrice  complimented 
in  general 

ORDERS. 

(Left  Side.) 

From  this  position 

Maj.  Gen.  Meade 

observed  the  Battle 

for  a  time 

ON  July  3 


g6Q  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

146th  regiment  INFANTRY, 

"  HALLECK  INFANTRY." 

Historical  Sketch  by  Gen.  James  G.  Grindlay. 

The  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  Regiment  was  organized  in  Home  under 
the  direction  of  the  senatorial  committee  of  the  Nineteenth  District.  It  was 
mustered  into  service  October  lo,  1862.  It  has  frequently  been  designated  the 
"  Fifth  Oneida,"  but  its  original  synonym  was  "  Halleck  Infantry,"  in  honor  of 
Maj.  Gen.  Henry  Wager  Halleck,  who  was  a  native  of  Oneida  County.  The 
familiar  title  of  "  Garrard  Tigers,"  by  which  the  officers  and  men  were  wont  to 
speak  of  themselves,  was  a  compliment  to  the  stern  discipline  and  soldierly  en- 
thusiasm of  Col.  Kenner  Garrard,  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  who  had  accepted 
the  command  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  at  the  suggestion  of  Gen- 
eral Halleck.  Colonel  Garrard  had  been  nearly  fifteen  years  in  the  United 
States  service. 

The  regiment  left  for  the  seat  of  war  on  October  nth,  and  went  into  camp 
at  Arlington  Heights,  Va.  During  the  month  that  the  regiment  remained 
there  it  was  subjected  to  the  most  severe  drill.  Leaving  Camp  Seward,  Novem- 
ber 9th,  it  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  at  Warrenton  the  day  after  Mc- 
Clellan  was  relieved  of  command.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Third 
Brigade,  Sykes'  Division,  Fifth  Corps,  the  latter  then  under  the  command  of 
General  Meade.  In  the  latter  part  of  November  it  went  into  camp  near  Fal- 
mouth, Va^  and  remained  there  until  December  nth,  when  it  broke  camp  and 
was  engaged  with  the  army  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  On  the  15th  the 
One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  recrossed  the  river  to  its  old  camp.  It  was  the 
last  regiment  over  at  the  lower  bridge.  It  was  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville, 
May  1-3,  1863,  under  Hooker,  and  in  the  first  day's  fight  suffered  heavily;  but 
the  men  acquitted  themselves  .with  honor.  May  21,  1863,  the  regiment  was 
sent  on  guard  to  Richards'  Ford  on  the  Rappahannock  River. 

On  June  loth  the  start  was  made  for  Gettysburg.  During  that  battle  the 
One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  was  in  the  brigade  commanded  by  Brigadier 
General  Weed.  Here  also  it  was  that  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth,  with 
the  One  hundred  and  fortieth  New  York,  and  Ninety-first  and  One  hundred 
and  fifty-fifth  Pennsylvania  Regiments,  at  a  severe  loss  of  officers  and  men, 
charged  up  and  obtained  possession  of  "  Little  Round  Top,"  the  key  to  the 
position,  and  held  it  during  the  entire  engagement.  They  were  among  the 
first  troops  to  occupy  "  Round  Top  Ridge,"  which  they  did  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  2d  of  July.  The  brigade  went  up  on  the  double-quick.  Hood's  Division 
of  Longstreet's  Corps  were  just  climbing  the  hill  when  we  reached  the  top 
and  in  a  hand-to-hand  encounter  drove  them  back.  It  was  then  that  General 
Weed,  Colonel  O'Rorke  of  the  One  hundred  and  fortieth  New  York,  and  Cap- 
tain Hazlett,  commanding  the  famous  "  Battery  D,"  Fifth  United  States  Ar- 
tillery, were  killed.  The  charge  of  Crawford's  men  was  in  the  Valley,  on  the 
right  of  our  position,  and  it  was  handsomely  made.  I  would  not  detract  from 
it  in  the  least,  but  I  claim  that  the  brave  deed  of  Weed's  and  Vincent's  Brigades 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  967 

should  have  whatever  of  glory  is  attached  to  "  Round  Top."  General  Lee 
says,  in  his  official  report,  that  it  was  the  real  point  of  controversy.  Warren 
said  it  was  the  key  of  the  battlefield,  and  he  put  us  there.  Finally,  General 
Meade  and  all  his  staff  generals  came  to  the  position  occupied  by  this  brigade 
to  view  the  battlefield.  The  losses  of  the  Third  Division  (Crawford's)  at  Gettys- 
burg in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  were  249;  the  losses  of  the  Second  Divis- 
ion (Ayres'),  regulars  and  volunteers,  were  1,028. 

What  a  scene  was  Round  Top!  There  was  the  high  bluff  covered  with 
rocky  crags,  among  and  on  which  our  brave  zouaves  were  disposed  in  every 
possible  position.  On  the  central  rock  was  the  signal  flag,  telling  the  story 
of  the  battle.  And  there  was  Warren  —  the  master  mind  it  seemed  of  the 
field, —  with  his  neck  patched  up  from  the  wounds  received  on  that  spot.  There 
was  Hazlett  and  Weed,  dying;  and  Sykes  and  Garrard  as  cool  as  if  witnessing  a 
review,  while  the  rifled  guns  of  Hazlett  were  within  fifteen  yards  of  the  same 
place  and  firing  directly  over  their  heads  at  the  enemy's  lines;  and  then  if 
the  group  of  Meade  and  his  generals  were  added,  it  would  make  an  excellent 
position  to  locate  an  historic  picture  of  the  battle.  In  consequence  of  the 
death  of  General  Weed  and  Colonel  O'Rorke,  the  command  devolved  upon 
Colonel  Garrard,  and  for  his  gallant  conduct  on  that  occasion  he  was  com- 
missioned brigadier  general.  Colonel  Jenkins  then  took  'command  of  the 
regiment. 

The  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  shared  the  fortunes  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  General  Grant  assumed  command  of 
the  army,  and  the  First  and  Fifth  Corps  were  consolidated.  The  One  hundred 
and  forty-sixth  was  then  in  the  Fifth  Corps,  First  Brigade,  Second  Di- 
vision, General  Ayres  commanding  the  division.  April  29th  the  army  broke 
pamp,  and  on  May  4th  came  within  one  mile  of  the  Wilderness  battlefield. 
On  the  succeeding  day  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  went  into  the  fray, 
and  suffered  almost  total  annihilation;  numbering  at  the  commencement  some 
600  muskets,  they  lost  nearly  400  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  Col. 
David  T.  Jenkins,  of  Vernon,  then  commanding  the  regiment  —  than  whom 
a  braver  or  more  meritorious  officer  never  lived  —  was  killed.  He  was  ac- 
counted one  of  the  best  engineers  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  although  not 
a  West  Point  graduate.  On  that  day  also  fell  that  gifted,  courageous  young 
dfficer,  Lieut.  Col.  Henry  Hastings  Curran.  The  command  of  the  regiment 
devolved  upon  James  G.  Grindlay,  who  led  it  until  the  close  of  the  war.  From 
this  time  until  the  end,  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  bore  a  conspicuous 
part  in  all  the  operations  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  the  final  movement 
of  the  campaign  of  Grant,  when  Sheridan  took  the  advance  on  the  extreme 
left  of  Dinwiddle  Court  House,  he  came  upon  the  enemy  a  few  miles  beyond, 
at  Five  Forks.  Warren's  Corps  was  at  once  sent  to  his  relief.  The  One 
hundred  and  forty-sixth  led  the  advance,  and  marched  all  liight.  They  had 
been  fighting  all  day,  and  the  corps  had  suffered  a  loss  of  1,800  in  killed  and 
wounded.  Yet  with  Warren  for  a  leader,  and  without  an  hour's  rest,  they 
marched  along  and  reported  to  Sheridan  next  morning. 

Thus  reinforced  an  advance  was  made,  and  the  enemy  found  strongly  in- 
trenched at  Five  Forks.  Warren  was  directed  to  move  with  his  whole  corps 
to  the  enemy's  left  flank,  while  the  cavalry  attacked  in  front    With  his  usual 


q68  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

skill  and  promptitude  he  advanced  on  the  strong  position  in  three  lines  of 
battle,  and  sweeping  steadily  down  carried  everything  before  him.  The  One 
hundred  and  forty-sixth  was  in  the  first  line  of  battle,  and  pursued  the  enemy 
until  darkness  overtook  them.  It  captured  two  battle  flags,  for  which  Medals 
of  Honor  were  given,  and  the  brigade  captured  seven  flags  and  many  prisoners. 
The  writer  can  testify  to  the  fact  that  Warren,  with  his  staff,  was  at  the  front 
directing  the  movements,  and  was  still  there  at  dusk,  his  men  shouting  the 
victory,  when  he  received  an  order  relieving  him  of  command,  an  act  of  gross 
injustice  done  him  just  when  he  deserved  the  highest  praise  equal  to  if  not 
higher  than  to  any  of  his  compeers.  Every  man  of  the  Fifth  Corps  believes 
it  to  have  been  such ;  and  the  imputations  of  one  man,  though  a  successful  and 
great  general,  are  wiped  out  by  the  verdict  of  thousands.  A  sudden  act  of 
injustice  may  he  pardoned.  Persisting  in  it,  constitutes  its  chief  criminality.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  General  Warren  was  only  thirty-five  years  old,  and  by 
those  best  qualified  to  judge,  he  was  considered  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  best, 
tactician  in  the  army.  i 

Warren's  fame  is  secure  in  the  hearts  of  his  soldiers.  The  army  and  the 
nation  have  a  common  interest  in  the  record  and  the  life  of  such  a  soldier. 

In  1863  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  adopted  the  Zouave  uniform.  It 
numbered  in  all,  from  first  to  last,  1,568  men,  receiving  additions  from  the  old 
Fifth  New  York  (Duryea  Zouaves),  the  Seventeenth  New  York,  the  D'Epen- 
euil  Zouaves,  and  the  Forty-fourth  New  York  ("  Ellsworth  Avengers  "),  re- 
ceiving at  each  time  a  body  of  splendid  soldiers.  The  regiment  was  thrice 
complimented  in  general  orders  for  distinguished  gallantry:  first  at  Laurel 
Hill,  Va.,  where,  as  two  lines  of  battle  in  front  broke,  it  stood  firm  and  repelled 
the  attack,  losing  severely;  second,  at  Cold  Harbor,  where  Mahone's  Division 
burst  on  its  lines,  the  brigade  to  which  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  be- 
longed checking  their  career,  and  thus  saving  the  position,  the  regiment  losing 
in  this  encounter  2  officers  and  69  enlisted  men ;  third,  at  Hatcher's  Run,  where 
it  held  its  ground  at  great  odds  until  its  ammunition  was  entirely  gone,  when 
it  was  withdrawn  a  short  distance,  its  cartridge  boxes  replenished,  and  the 
line  again  advanced.  ' 

The  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  lost  2  field  officers  and  5  line  officers  killed 
in  battle ;  2  officers  by  death  from  disease ;  5  by  resignation  on  account  of  wounds, 
and  I  by  transfer;  16  of  its  officers  and  525  of  its  enlisted  men  were  wounded 
in  battle;  162  of  its  enlisted  men  were  killed  in  battle;  105  died  of  disease;  550 
were  discharged  for  wounds  and  disability;  324  were  transferred;  and  327  were 
mustered  out  of  service  at  the  close  of  the  war.  One  hundred  and  fifty-six 
commissions  were  issued  to  the  regiment,  and  11  enlisted  men  were  promoted 
into  other  regiments  as  commissioned  officers. 

Three  stands  of  colors  were  possessed  by  the  regiment.  A  banner  given 
by  the  State  was  carried  through  several  battles  and  afterwards  deposited  at 
Albany.  Two  United  States  colors,  that  gave  good  evidence  of  the  service 
they  have  seen,  were  carried  by  the  regiment,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  turned 
over  to  the  War  Department. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  following  battles,  which  by  order  of  the 
War  Department  they  were  entitled  to  inscribe  upon  their  flag:  i,  Fredericks- 
burg; 2,  Chancellorsville;  3,  Gettysburg;  4,  Rappahannock  Station;  5,  Bristoe 


New  Yokk  at  Gettysburg.  969 

Station;  6,  Mine  Run;  7,  Williamsport;  8,  Wapping  Heights;  9,  Wilderness; 
10,  Spotsylvania  Court  House;  11,  Laurel  Hill;  12,  North  Anna;  13,  Totopoto- 
moy;  14,  Cold  Harbor;  15,  Petersburg;  16,  Weldon  Railroad;  17,  Chappell 
House;  18,  Hatcher's  Run;  19,  Poplar  Springs  Church;  20,  Hicksford;  21, 
White  Oak  Road;  22,  Five  Forks;  23,  Appomattox. 

The  high  opinion  entertained  for  the  regiment  at  headquarters  is  evident  in 
the  following  letter  written  by  General  Ayres: 

"  H'd  Qrs.,  3d  Div.,  Pro.  Corps,  July  15,  1865. 
Gen.  James  G.  Grindlay  and  Ofificers  and  Men  of  the  146th  Regt.  N.  Y.  Vols. : 

As  our  official  relations  are  about  to  terminate,  I  take  the  occasion  to  ex- 
press my  deep  regret  therefor,  though  rejoicing  in  its  cause. 

During  the  time  that  your  regiment  has  served  in  my  command,  and  the 
many  battles  it  has  participated  in,  I  have  ever  felt  entire  confidence  in  its 
discipline  and  gallantry. 

I  have  never  called  upon  it,  save  to  see  the  duty  assigned,  nobly  performed. 
I  believe  there  is  not  a  more  distinguished  regiment  than  yours.  Gallantly 
have  you  borne  those  torn  and  tattered  banners.  Defiantly  have  you  shaken 
them  in  the  very  jaws  of  death,  and  triumphantly  waved  them  on  fields  of 
victory. 

Well  assured  that  in  your  reception  on  returning  home,  will  be  evinced  the 
deep  gratitude  of  an  admiring  people,  and  with  my  best  wishes  for  your  wel- 
fare and  happiness,  I  remain, 

Sincerely  and  truly  your  friend, 

R.  B.  AYRES, 

Bvt.  Major  General." 


Medals  of  Honor  were  given  by  Congress  to: 

James  G.  Grindlay,  "  for  conspicuous  bravery  while  commanding  the  brigade 
at  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  Va.,  April  i,  1865."  Thomas  I.  Murphy,  sergeant 
Company  G,  and  Priv.  David  Edwards,  Company  H,  for  the  capture  of  battle 
flags. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Washington,  D.  C,  July  16, 
1865,  and  its  long  and  arduous  service  brought  to  an  honorable  close. 


THE  TAKING  AND  HOLDING  OF  LITTLE  ROUND  TOP. 
By  Lieut.  A.  P.  Case. 
The  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  New  York,  known  as  the  Halleck  Infantry, 
was  commanded  by  Col.  Kenner  Garrard  of  the  regular  army,  who  left  the 
post  of  commandant  at  West  Point,  by  request  of  General  Halleck  for  that 
purpose.  The  regiment  first  joined  General  Warren's  Third  Brigade,  Second 
Division,  Fifth  Corps.  This  brigade  was  then  composed  of  the  Fifth  New 
York,  Colonel  Winslow  (Duryea's  Zouaves),  the  One  hundred  and  fortieth 


970  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

New  York,  Colonel  O'Rorke,  and  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  New  York, 
Col.  Kenner  Garrard.  Warren,  O'Rorke  and  Garrard  were  together  at  West 
Point.  The  two  other  brigades  of  Sykes'  Division  were  all  regulars.  But  at 
the  time  of  the  Gettysburg  campaign  the  brigade  was  commanded  by  Gen. 
Stephen  H.  Weed,  of  the  regular  army,  and  was  composed  of  the  One  hundred 
and  fortieth  New  York,  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  New  York,  and  the 
Ninety-first  and  One  hundred  and  fifty-fifth  Pennsylvania. 

The  Fifth  Corps,  after  marching  nearly  all  night,  reached  the  Gettysburg 
field  about  6  a.  m.,  July  2d,  and  was  stationed  on  the  west  side  of  Rock  Creek, 
near  the  bridge  on  the  Baltimore  Pike,  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  Union  hne. 
It  was  so  posted,  as  we  understood,  because  General  Meade  that  morning 
contemplated  an  attack  by  the  Fifth  and  Twelfth  Corps  on  Ewell's  position  at 
Benner's  Hill.  Soon  after  our  arrival.  General  Meade  sent  for  General  Weed, 
who  had  an  excellent  reputation  as  an  artillery  officer  in  the  regular  army, 
to  visit  the  battery  positions  in  this  part  of  the  line,  including  Gulp's  Hill.  The 
writer,  an  extra  aid  on  General  Weed's  staff,  was  ordered  to  accompany  him. 
Several  batteries  were  changed  at  General  Weed's  suggestion.  But  no  attack 
was  made  on  Ewell. 

About  3  p.  m.,  the  Fifth  Corps  was  ordered  in  to  support  General  Sickles, 
who  held  the  extreme  left  of  the  Union  line.  At  this  time  the  Union  line  made 
nearly  a  horse-shoe  shape,  so  that  the  corps  was  marched  from  the  right  heel 
of  the  shoe  across  to  the  left  heel.  General  Sykes  himself  took  in  Barnes' 
First  Division,  going  by  the  Peach  Orchard  cross  road.  General  Ayres' 
Second  Division  followed.  General  Weed's  Third  Brigade  leading,  the  other 
two  brigades  following  at  quite  a  distance.  The  Peach  Orchard  cross  road 
connects  the  Taneytown  and  the  Emmitsburg  roads,  and  as  it  leaves  the 
former  it  crosses  over  the  north  foot  of  Little  Round  Top. 

When  the  head  of  General  Weed's  column  had  reached  the  woods  south  of 
Trostle's  house,  and  near  where  the  Third  Massachusetts  Battery  was  placed, 
the  smoke  of  the  battle  was  so  dense  that  General  Weed  rode  ahead  to  see 
where  he  was  wanted,  and  told  his  staff  to  bring  the  column  along  very  slowly 
until  he  returned.  At  this  time  the  rear  of  the  column,  the  One  hundred  and 
fortieth  New  York,  had  just  passed  the  foot  of  Little  Round  Top,  which  was 
then  bare  of  troops,  and  was  occupied  only  by  General  Warren  and  the  Signal 
Corps.  They  had  just  discovered  a  movement  of  Rebel  troops  from  the  south- 
west to  occupy  this  hill,  from  which  the  whole  left  of  the  Union  army  could 
be  enfiladed.  Realizing  the  vital  necessity  of  holding  this  point,  and  seeing 
the  troops  passing  through  the  valley  at  its  north  foot.  General  Warren 
hastened  down  to  them,  and  found  them  to  be  his  old  brigade.  The  men 
greeted  him  with  repeated  cheers,  for  he  was  greatly  beloved  and  respected 
by  his  old  regiments. 

,  Detaching  the  One  hundred  and  fortieth  he  sent  it  up  the  hill,  and  then 
rode  forward  to  the  head  of  the  column,  and  finding  General  Weed  gone,  or- 
dered it  halted  for  Weed's  return.  Weed  soon  came  back  with  Sykes'  order 
to  take  his  brigade  on  to  Little  Round  Top.  He  at  once  moved  up  the  hill 
by  a  countermarch.  The  writer  never  learned  whether  he  saw  General  Sykes, 
or  got  the  order  from  a  messenger.  A  short  time  before  this  General  Sykes 
had  detached  Vincent's  Brigade  from  Barnes'  Division,  and  sent  it  to  occupy 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  971 

the  level  gap  south  of  Little  Round  Top  and  lying  between  it  and  Big  Round 
Top,  as  that  passage  offered  an  easy  route  for  the  Rebel  troops  to  the  rear, 
of  the  Union  left.  I  do  not  think  that  the  occupancy  or  defence  of  Little 
Round  Top  was  then  thought  of,  for  it  appeared  almost  inaccessible.  But  the 
Rebel  troops  that  Warren  had  seen  advancing  towards  the  hill  met  Vincent's 
troops  in  the  gap  at  the  south  slope  of  Little  Round  Top,  and  had  there  a 
hard  fight  in  which  Vincent  was  killed.  His  right  was  gradually  driven  back, 
and  Hood's  Texas  Brigade  reached  the  southern  summit  of  the  hill,  where 
they  were  met  by  the  One  hundred  and  fortieth  New  York,  which  had  been 
rushed  up  from  the  opposite  side.  Never  was  there  a  more  opportune  arrivaL 
A  Rebel  occupancy  of  the  hill  would  probably  have  been  fatal  to  the  success 
of  the  Union  army.  The  hill  is  sparsely  covered  with  trees,  and  the  ground 
thickly  strewn  with  huge  rocks,  so  that  no  deployment  of  troops  could  be 
made.  A  desperate  hand-to-hand  conflict  ensued,  the  men  loading  and  firing 
as  they  passed  around  the  rocks.  Colonel  O'Rorke,  2  of  his  officers  and  25 
privates  were  killed  at  the  first  onset.  The  Texans  were  driven  down,  and 
Vincent's  lines  reformed,  with  his  right  touching  the  left  of  Weed's  Brigade, 
now  all  on  the  hill.  The  attack  was  renewed,  and  again  repulsed.  The  regi- 
ments then  took  the  positions  they  remained  in  until  they  left  the  Gettysburg 
field  on  the  Sth  of  July.  Their  line  faced  west,  occupied  the  whole  west  crest 
of  the  hill  in  a  north  and  south  line,  the  One  hundred  and  fortieth  at  the  left, 
next  the  Ninety-first  Pennsylvania,  then  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth, 
with  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-fifth  on  the  right.  The  One  hundred  and 
fortieth  lay  partly  down  the  south  slope,  and  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-fifth 
Pennsylvania  partly  down  the  north  slope. 

There  is  some  uncertainty  as  to  which  of  the  regiments  first  followed  the 
One  hundred  and  fortieth,  but  the  writer  thinks  it  was  the  One  hundred  and 
forty-sixth.  While  the  regiments  were  ascending  the  hill  Captain  Hazlett's 
United  States  battery  of  four  guns  was  also  taken  up,  the  horses  being  lashed 
to  their  utmost  exertions,  and  the  infantry  assisting  at  the  wheels.  It  was  a 
terrible  place  for  the  horses  or  guns,  but  the  emergency  had  to  be  met.  The 
ground  on  the  west  front  of  the  hill  was  covered  by  the  rocks  of  the  Devil's 
Den,  which  were  occupied  by  hundreds  of  Rebel  sharpshooters.  This  fight 
on  Little  Round  Top  took  place  between  4  p.  m.  and  5  p.  m.  The  Rebel 
sharpshooters  were  a  great  annoyance  to  both  infantry  and  artillery.  The  guns 
of  the  battery  could  not  be  depressed  enough  to  dislodge  them.  Soon  after  5 
p.  m.  General  Weed  was  instantly  killed  by  a  bullet,  and  as  he  sank  to  the 
ground,  Captain  Hazlett,  of  the  battery,  who  had  been  standing  by  his  side, 
leaned  over  to  speak  to  him,  when  he,  too,  was  shot,  and  fell  by  Weed's  side, 
neither  of  them  speaking  a  word,  except  that  Colonel  Jenkins,  of  the  One 
hundred  and  forty-sixth,  thought  he  heard  General  Weed  say  "  My  sister." 

During  the  whole  of  the  next  day,  July  3d,  the  Rebel  sharpshooters  killed 
all  who  showed  themselves  on  the  hill.  The  men  protected  themselves  as  well 
as  they  could,  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  piling  up  loose  stones,  which 
I  am  told  still  remain  as  they  left  them.  As  the  hill  made  an  excellent  outlook 
over  the  field  of  the  third  day's  fight.  General  Meade  and  his  staff,  with  the 
Signal  Corps,  were  there  all  day,  occupying  a  rocky  pen  directly  in  the  line 
held  by  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth.     A  company  of  Berdan's  Sharp- 


972  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

shooters  was  brought  up  and  afforded  some  protection.  It  was  here  that 
General  Warren  thought  he  could  use  one  of  the  heavy  rifles  better  than  the 
man  who  had  it.  After  firing  it  a  few  times,  with  what  effect  no  one  could 
tell,  his  own  neck  was  grazed  by  a  Rebel  bullet.  He  bound  it  up  with  his" 
handkerchief,  and  relinquished  the  rifle.  The  writer  on  going  over  that  Devil's 
Den,  on  the  morning  of  July  4th,  to  relieve  the  wounded  Union  soldiers  who 
had  lain  there  since  the  afternoon  of  July  2d,  found  those  rocky  crevices  full 
of  dead  Rebel  sharpshooters,  most  of  them  still  grasping  their  rifles.  Behind 
one  short  low  ridge  of  rock  lay  a  row  of  eighteen  dead  who  had  been  tallied 
out  one  by  one  by  our  sharpshooters.  One  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty- 
sixth  brought  in  the  sword  of  General  Barksdale,  of  Mississippi,  which  was 
found  by  the  side  of  his  dead  body.    Colonel  Garrard  sent  it  to  General  Sykes. 

During  Longstreet's  great  charge  on  the  afternoon  of  July  3d,  Hazlett's 
Battery  (commanded  by  Lieutenant  Rittenhouse  after  Hazlett  was  killed)  had 
a  terrible  raking  fire  on  the  Rebel  line,  which  was  made  with  great  effect.  This 
caused  a  concentration  of  the  fire  of  many  Rebel  batteries  upon  Hazlett's  posi- 
tion, their  shell  and  shot  crashing  among  the  rocks  as  if  the  world  was  coming 
to  an  end.  The  Fifth  Corps  hospital  had  been  made  at  the  house  and  barns 
of  J.  Weikart,  on  the  Taneytown  Road,  at  the  foot  of  the  east  front  of  Little 
Round  Top,  and  during  this  cannonade  many  of  the  Rebel  shells  came  over 
the  hill  and  struck  our  hospital,  wounding  some  a  second  time.  It  was  then 
moved  to  Lewis  Bushman's,  about  a  mile  to  the  southeast.  The  losses  of 
Weed's  Brigade  were  as  follows:  Staff,  i;  One  hundred  and  fortieth  New 
York,  133;  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  New  York,  28;  Ninety-first  Pennsyl- 
vania, 19;  One  hundred  and  fifty-fifth  Pennsylvania,  19;  total,  200. 

It  was  a  curious  coincidence  that  while  the  First  and  Second  Brigades  of 
the  First  and  Second  Divisions,  respectively,  of  the  Fifth  Corps  were  support- 
ing General  Sickles,  the  Third  Brigades  of  those  divisions  should  have  been 
separately  detached  and  sent  by  different  routes  to  the  defence  of  Little  Round 
Top,  these  two  brigades  containing  the  only  three  New  York  regiments  in 
the  Fifth  Corps.  Thus  the  Forty-fourth  New  York,  Colonel  Rice,  of  Vin- 
cent's Brigade,  came  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  Colonel  O'Rorke's  One  hun- 
dred and  fortieth  New  York,  and  Colonel  Garrard's  One  hundred  and  forty- 
sixth  New  York,  in  one  of  the  most  critical  moments  of  the  Gettysburg  fight. 
So  the  New  York  men  of  the  Fifth  Corps  made  a  most  gallant  fight,  and  made 
it  side  by  side.  And  as  General  Weed's  death  left  Colonel  Garrard  in  command 
of  one  brigade,  so  did  Colonel  Vincent's  death  bring  Colonel  Rice  in  com- 
mand of  the  other  brigade.  Col.  David  T.  Jenkins,  afterwards  killed  in  the 
Wilderness  fight,  succeeded  Colonel  Garrard  in  the  command  of  the  One  hun- 
dred and  forty-sixth.  Col.  James  G.  Grindlay,  a  gallant  and  competent  officer, 
succeeded  Jenkins  and  led  the  regiment  in  every  battle  to  the  close  of  the  war. 
The  Fifth  Corps  left  the  Gettysburg  field  on  the  afternoon  of  July  5th. 

Death  has  come  to  most  of  the  leaders  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth, 
Meade  and  Sykes  of  the  corps,  Warren,  Weed  and  Garrard  of  the  brigade, 
Jenkins  and  Curran  of  the  regiment.  The  One  hundred  and  forty-sixth  had 
other  ties  which  united  it  closely  to  General  Warren,  as  one  of  his  brothers 
was  quartermaster  of  the  brigade,  and  his  youngest  brother,  Robert  P.  War- 
ren, was  a  captain  in  the  regiment. 


J.   B.   LYON  PRINT. 


THE   WARREN    MONUMENT 
On  Little  Round  Top. 


F.  J.  SKVKttKNUE,  PHOTO. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  973 


(INSCRIPTION.) 


Led  to  this  spot 
by  his  military  sagacity  on  july  2,  1863, 
GENERAL  GOUVERNEUR  KEMBLE  WARREN, 

THE  CHIEF  ENGINEER  OF  THE  ArMY   OF  THE   PoTOMAC, 
DETECTED   GENERAL  HoOD'S   FLANKING  MOVEMENT, 
AND    BY    PROMPTLY    ASSUMING    THE    RESPONSIBILITY 
OF   ORDERING   TROOPS   TO   THIS   PLACE,    SAVED   THE    KEY 

OF  THE  Union  position. 

Promoted  for  gallant  services 
from  the  command  of  a  regiment  in  1861,  through 

SUCCESSIVE  GRADES  TO  THE .  COMMAND   OF  THE  2D   ArMY 

Corps  IN  1863,  and  permanently  assigned  to  that 

OF  the  5th  Army  Corps  in  1864., 

MAJOR  GENERAL  WARREN  NE;EDS  NO  EULOGY. 

His  name  is  enshrined  in  ..the  hearts  of  his  countrymen. 

This  statue 
is  erected  under  the  auspices  of  the  veteran 
organization  of  his  old  regiment,  the  5TH  New  York 
Vols.,  Duryee  Zouaves,  in  memory  of  their  beloved 
commander. 

DEDiCATtD  August  8,  1888. 


974  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  MAJ.  GEN.  GOUVERNEUR  K.  WARREN. 

August  8,  1888. 

Invocation  by  Rev.  I.  M.  Foster. 
(146th  New  York  Infantry.) 

Almighty  God,  Thou  art  our  Father,  and  in  Thee  is  our  life.  From  Thy 
hand  cometh  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  and  Thy  mercies  are  over  all  Thy 
creatures. 

We  give  Thee  thanks  for  the  mercies  that  have  guided  us  in  all  the 
past,  and  for  the  goodness  which  has  brought  us  to  this  hour.  We  thank 
Thee  to-day  for  our  nation's  history,  and  rejoice  that  when  war  was  upon  us. 
Thou  didst  bring  victory  to  the  truth  and  right. 

We  would  not  forget  that  the  victory  won  upon  this  battlefield  was  not  only 
in  defence  of  the  power  of  the  government,  but  in  the  interest  of  humanity 
everywhere.  And  we  rejoice,  O  God,  that  out  of  the  struggle  here,  Thou  didst 
bring  light  and  hope  to  the  oppressed  of  every  land.  And  as  the  memories 
of  the  past  flow  in  upon  us  to-day,  may  we  renew  our  devotion  to  the  truth 
that  was  here  exalted  by  the  valor  of  the  nation's  defenders. 

May  Thy  special  blessing  rest  upon  the  family  of  him  whose  name  to-day 
we  honor.  May  they,  the  beloved  of  his  heart,  find  in  Thee  protection  and 
safety  ever  and  always. 

Give  us  all  Thy  grace.  Help  us  all  to  emulate  the  virtues  of  our  old  com- 
mander; and  to  remember  that  though  the  bronze  shall  decay,  as  iEhe  years 
are  told,  the  truth  he  loved  and  the  graces  that  characterized  his  life  shall  shine 
as  the  stars  forever.  Guide  us  all  in  the  truth.  And  when  the  battle  of  life  is 
fought,  bring  us  to  the  victor's  palm,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.    Amen. 


TRANSFER  OF  MONUMENT. 

By  James  B.  Fiske,  Pres.  sth  N.  Y.  Veteran  Assn.  (Duryee  Zouaves). 

Honored  Sir  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial 
Association: 

With  feelings  of  awe  and  with  memories  of  the  relentless  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion passing  quickly  through  our  minds,  we  are  here  to-day  to  perform  a 
duty  that  is  both  sad  and  pleasant.  Sad,  because  we  regret  the  absence  from 
life  of  him  whose  memory  we  this  day  seek  to  perpetuate.  Pleasant,  from  the 
fact  that  it  has,  and  very  properly,  fallen  to  our  lot  as  survivors  of  the  Fifth 
New  York  Volunteers  to  offer  here  for  dedication  this  tribute  to  the  spotless 
name  and  memory  of  Gouverneur  K.  Warren. 

To  you,  gentlemen,  who  have  passed  through  the  furnace  of  war,  our  pil- 
grimage hither  will  be  no  source  of  wonderment.    You  fully  understand  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  975 

promptings  of  loVe  born  of  patriotism,  nursed  by  trials  and  dangers,  and  ma- 
tured by  the  fire  of  battle. 

We  come  as  members  of  one  family,  and  Warren  was  our  brother.  We 
served  with  him  through  all  the  periods  of  privation  and  hardship  encountered 
by  his  command  from  1861  until  1865.  We  are  living  witnesses  of  his  devotion 
to  the  Union  cause,  and  we  can  testify  to  his  cool  and  intrepid  bravery  un^er 
many  trying  circumstances. 

Gaines'  Mill,  Second  Bull  Run,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Mine  Run, 
Wilderness,  Spotsylvania,  North  Anna,  Petersburg,  Weldon  Railroad, 
Hatcher's  Run,  and  Five  Forks  are  a  few  of  the  many  fields  on  which  we  were 
led  by  Warren,  and  on  which  he  gained  imperishable  glory  and  renown. 

Our  regiment,  under  his  able  management,  reached  a  proficiency  in  disci- 
pline and  drill,  and  demonstrated  fighting  qualities  unexcelled  by  that  of  any 
regiment  in  the  United  States  service  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

We  admired  his  zeal  and  ability;  we  gloried  in  his  bravery;  and  we  loved 
him  for  his  patriotism  and  loyalty  to  our  flag  and  country. 

It  is  said  "  he  needs  no  eulogy."  Can  it  not,  with  equal  truth,  be  said  "  he 
needs  no  monument?" 

If  we  had  not  listened  to  the  patriotic  impulses  of  our  hearts  and  had  never 
given  this  memorial  a  thought,  what  then?  Could  it  not  be  said  to  those  who 
come  in  after  years:  "  If  ye  seek  his  monument,  look  around!  "  These  grand 
old  hills,  "  Rock-ribbed  and  ancient  as  the  sun; "  the  vale  below,  wherein  was 
felt  the  shock  of  battle,  and  all  the  country  circling  round  are  one  vast,  ever- 
lasting monument  to  the  name  and  fame  of  Warren. 

But,  honored  Sir,  would  we  be  satisfied  to  take  our  departure  to  "  that  Home 
not  made  with  hands,"  without  leaving  behind  us  some  testimonial  of  his 
worth?    I  think  not. 

Who,  then,  could  attend  to  this  work  more  appropriately  than  those  with 
whom  he  faced  the  summer's  scorching  sun,  the  winter's  fiercest  blast,  the 
hardships,  fatigues  and  dangers  of  a  soldier's  life. 

It  would  consume  too  much  of  time  to  enter  into  all  the  details  of  this 
movement.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  about  two  years  ago  the  Veteran  As- 
sociation of  the  Fifth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  Duryee  Zouaves,  at  one 
of  its  regular  meetings  determined  to  erect  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  their 
old  commander.  Gen.  Gouverneur  Kemble  Warren.  Our  own  members  con- 
tributed liberally,  but  were  not  financially  able  to  do  the  work  unaided.  We, 
therefore,  through  the  aid  of  the  press,  and  through  the  medium  of  printed 
circulars,  appealed  to  the  public,  more  particularly  to  that  portion  whose  knowl- 
edge of  the  general  was  gained  through  service  with  him  in  the  army. 

Subscriptions  came  slowly  for  a  time,  but  many  words  of  cheer  and  en- 
couragement were  received  which  buoyed  our  spirits,  and  at  last  we  began  to 
see  the  dawn  of  success.  From  East  and  West,  from  North  and  South,  came 
messages  filled  with  gems  of  historic  truth  and  praise  of  Warren. 
•  We  shall  ever  remember  with  exceeding  pleasure  and  gratitude  the  kindly 
co-operation  of  friends  in  Baltimore;  and  when  our  mental  vision  takes  an 
easterly  view  we  see  as  if  by  magic,  seated  tranquilly  in  Narragansett  Bay, 
within  hearing  of  the  melancholy  sound  of  old  ocean's  surge  and  roar,  and 


976  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

defended  by  that  grim  old  citadel,  Fort  Adams,  Newport,  the  beautiful  city  by 
the  sea.  We,  in  thought,  are  led  to  its  suburbs,  to  its  place  of  graves;  we 
stand  in  silent  contemplation  around  the  tomb  of  our  beloved  commander, 
and  our  hearts  are  filled  with  gratitude  and  our  pulses  beat  livelier  when  we 
remember  the  generous  hospitality  of  the  friends  in  Newport,  and  their  sturdy 
efforts  to  assist  us,  and  to  which  we  in  a  great  measure  attribute  our  success. 
They,  and  all  others  who  aided  us,  have  our  heartiest  thanks. 

And  now  the  memorial  is  here.  Upon  the  rock  on  which  it  stands  the 
immortal  Warren  stood,  and  by  his  quick  forethought,  his  acuteness  of  per- 
ception, thwarted  the  enemy's  movements  which,  if  successful,  would  have 
brought  disaster  to  our  arms  and  incalculable  injury  to  the  nation. 

Through  you.  Sir,  we  desire  to  extend  to  the  gentlemen  composing  the 
Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association  our  warmest  thanks  for  the  set- 
ting apart  of  this  historic  spot  for  the  erection  of  this  statue,  and  for  the  other 
courtesies  extended  us  through  our  committee. 

We  d-esire  also  on  this  august  occasion  to  congratulate  the  sculptor,  Mr. 
Karl  Gerhardt,  under  whose  careful  study  and  manipulation  this  beautiful 
creation  came  into  existence.  With  wonderful  power  he  has  delineated  in 
bronze  the  hkeness  and  character  of  our  idol,  and  has  given  a  valuable  con- 
tribution of  art  to  this  glorious  battlefield.  Nor  should  we  forget  with  what 
care  and  nicety  the  work  of  the  founder  was  performed.  We  feel  that  we 
are  indebted  to  the  Henry  Bonnard  Bronze  Co.  in  no  small  degree  for  furnish- 
ing so  beautiful  a  dupHcate  of  the  sculptor's  handiwork,  without  which  all 
were  in  vain. 

And  now.  Sir,  in  the  name  and  on  behalf  of  the  Veteran  Association  of  the 
Fifth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  Duryee  Zouaves,  permit  me  to  present 
to  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association,  through  you,  this  statue 
of  our  beloved  commander,  Maj.  Gen.  Gouverneur  K.  Warren.  A  few  of 
us  who  followed  where  he  led  are  here  to-day  to  do  honor  to  his  memory ;  but 
a  little  while  and  we,  too,  shall  have  gone  the  way  of  all  men.  Our  mother 
Earth,  always  friendly  to  the  human  race,  will  receive  us  and  piously  cover 
our  remains  with  her  bosom,  while  we  go  into  the  realm  of  oblivion;  but  amid 
the  ravages  of  time  will  stand  this  statue  of  the  savior  of  Gettysburg. 
His  deeds  will  be  an  incentive  to  the  most  lofty  patriotism,  and  thousands  who 
are  yet  unborn  will  do  him  homage. 


DEDICATORY  POEM. 
Major  Andrew  Coats,  U.  S.  V., 
(Co.   E,   Duryee  Zouaves.) 
Kind  friends  of  Warren,  you  who  loved  him  well. 
Why  call  on  me,  to  break  the  calm,  sweet  spell. 
Which  silence  gives? 
To  thoughtful  minds,  to  soldiers  true, 
Along  these  hills,  stretch  lines  of  blue, 

And  Warren  lives. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  977 

With  loyal  heart,  and  soldier's  skill, 
He  notes  the  vantage  of  this  hill, 

Then  longs  for  aid: 
One  passing  thought  o'erclouds  his  brow: 
Where,  where,  alas!  those  veterans  now, 

His  old  brigade? 
But  there's  no  time  for  vain  regret, 
The  foe  will  come,  and  must  be  met, 

Whate'er  the  cost. 
His  well-trained  eye  is  quick  to  see, 
That  this  small  hill,  once  gained  by  Lee, 

The  field  is  lost 
So  rein  to  bit,  and  spur  to  side, 
Fast  down  that  slope  you  see  him  ride 

In  search  of  men. 
Hope  spurs   him  on,  for  at  a  glance 
He  sees  a  few  tired  troops  advance 

From  out  the  glen. 
I  say  a  few,  yes!  all  too  few, 
But  brave  and  loyal,  good  and  true. 

And  men  of  fate 
To  thus  meet  Warren,  then  and  there. 
Without  a  moment's  time  to  spare. 

Or  all  too  late. 
In  voice  with  pent  emotion  thick, 
He  cries  out,  "Forward!  double-quick. 

And  do  not  stop." 
"  Colonel!  advance  your  whole  command. 
And  do  not  halt  them,  till  they  stand 

On  that  round  top." 
The  brave  O'Rorke  stops  not  to  ask 
The  reason  for  such  hurried  task. 

But,  out  of  breath. 
Leads  quickly  on  his  soldiers  brave: 
This  pinnacle  of  fame  to  save 

And  reaches  —  death. 
While  Warren,  past  the  panting  men. 
Spurs  on  his  steed,  till  once  again 

The  view  is  clear. 
"Thank  God!"  he  cries;  and  well  he  may. 
For  there  they  come,  the  men  in  gray. 

But  ours  are  here. 
The  foemen  charge  with  glittering  steel. 
But  backward  soon  you  see  them  reel 

Through  leaden  showers. 
Our  Warren  was  the  first  to  see 
That  on  this  Top  hung  victory's  key. 

And  made  it  ours. 
62 


978  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Such  is  the  story,  all  too  poorly  told; 
But  days  will  come,  as  time  grows  old, 

When  brush  and  pen 
In  skillful  hands  shall  paint  this  tale, 
And  Warren's  name,  over  hill  and  dale, 

Shall  ring  again. 

The  old  Bay  State  has  marked,  and  marked  it  well, 
A  sacred  spot  where  "Rebel"  Warren  fell; 
He,  like  our  own  dear  Warren,  a  patriot  brave. 
But  happier  far,  he  found  a  soldier's  grave; 
While  our  loved  hero,  through  the  battle's  strife, 
Had  harder  task  than  yielding  up  his  life. 
He  led  the  vanguard,  at  war's  first  rude  blast. 
Fought  in  the  first  fight,  and  nobly  won  the  last. 
And  so  grim  fate,  to  each  a  task  thus  gives, 
One  for  his  country  dies,  another  for  it  —  lives. 
To-day  we  come  to  mark,  in  loving  mood. 
Not  where  our  Warren  fell,  but  where  he  stood, 
And  where  he  always  stood  —  and  will  forever  stand  — 
In  the  front  rank  of  heroes,  of  our  land. 
This  spot  shall  be  the  shrine,  in  coming  years. 
Of  joy  and  glory  —  not  regrets,  or  tears; 
For  pilgrim  patriots  shall  seek  this  holy  rood 
And  point  with  pride,  to  where  our  Warren  stood. 


ORATION  BY  REV.  C.  F.  HULU. 

(Duryee  Zouaves.) 

Mr.  President,  and  Comrades  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Volunteers 
Veteran  Association,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

We  meet  to-day  to  commemorate  an  event,  and  to  dedicate  a  monument. 
As  the  survivors  of  an  army  that  fought  valiantly  for  a  cause,  as  noble  in  pur- 
pose as  it  is  deathless  in  principle,  we  gather  on  this  heroic  field  to  renew 
the  friendships  of  former  years,  to  revive  the  memories  of  those  stirring  days, 
and  to  ofifer  our  meed  of  affection  and  eulogy  to  the  memory  of  our  lamented 
and  honored  dead. 

It  is  proper  that  those  who  have  made  history  should  meet  upon  the  spot 
where  history  was  made.  The  printed  page  is  punctuated  to  give  sense  to 
sentences,  and  to  make  emphatic  each  climax  in  the  narrative.  So  the  un- 
lettered but  all-luminous  page  that  lies  outspread  before  us  has  its  punctuation 
marks  in  battle  monuments. 

Each  memorial  column  and  cenotaph  on  this  battlefield  of  fame  marks  a 
paragraph  of  heroism,  endurance,  and  daring  in  the  story  of  Gettysburg. 

Where  all  were  brave,  it  is  hard  to  think  that  some  must  lie  unhonored 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  979 

among  the  dead.  The  undiscovered  heroes  who  fell  upon  this  field,  and 
whose  fame  will  be  unsung,  are  worthy  of  a  thought  of  reverence  from  those 
who  saw  them  fall;  and,  while  we  gather  at  this  monument  of  our  illustrious 
chief  to  do  him  honor,  let  us  lay  one  flower  of  eulogy  upon  the  graves  of 
those  who  fought  so  nobly,  and  who  died  —  "  unknown." 

It  is  passing  strange  that  mortuary  honors  are  often  the  first  that  men 
receive  from  their  neighbors.  The  man  who  moves  unrecognized  among  the 
level  crowd  will  one  day  be  esteemed  a  hero  for  his  deeds ;  and  when  the  hand 
we  never  touched  in  life  has  crumbled  into  grave-dust,  we  twine  the  laurel 
leaf,  and  crown  a  name. 

Grave  glories  are  not  like  morning  glories.  The  latter  wither  while  the 
sun  is  at  the  zenith;  the  former  blossom  when  the  sun  of  life  is  set.  So  he 
who  suns  himself  beneath  the  favor  of  the  passing  hour,  may  be  forgotten  by 
the  changing  crowd;  but  his  the  lasting  honor  and  the  fame  whose  deeds  and 
praise  live  after  he  is  dead.  May  the  memory  of  these  heroes  inspire  within 
our  breasts  a  love  for  liberty  and  country,  that  shall  remain  a  noble  ideal 
for  our  children  when  we,  too,  have  passed  away.  And  when  they  gather 
at  these  graves  in  coming  years,  may  they  remember  that  those  who  fell  fought 
not  for  glory,  but  for  principle. 

Among  the  treasures  brought  from  Cyprus  is  an  intaglio  head,  engraved  on 
amethyst.  Every  line  is  executed  in  delicate  detail;  but  though  the  hand  that 
graved  it  has  crumbled  in  the  dust  for  ages,  the  perfect  features  in  the  stone 
remain  to  tell  the  story  of  the  unknown  artist's  skill.  Yet  more  enduring  than 
amethyst  is  principle.  Precious  stones  may  perish.  The  soldiers  who  lie 
buried  here,  and  those  who  fell  on  other  fields,  fought  for  an  idea  and  left  a 
legacy  which  will  outlast  both  bronze  and  sculptured  stone.  Let  us  resolve 
that  whatever  is  true  in  the  ideal  for  which  they  fought  shall  live  in  the  govern- 
ment they  died  to  sustain. 

As  we  assemble  here  to-day,  some  one  may  ask :  "  Was  there  need  of  such 
a  sacrifice  of  life  and  all  these  wasted  years  of  reconstruction  since  the  war?  " 
But  have  these  years  been  wasted?  Has  this  cemetery  been  peopled  with 
the  dead  in  vain?  The  lessons  of  experience  are  not  too  costly  if  they  are 
learned.  We  cannot  hurry  Providence.  The  momentum  of  events  is  meas- 
ured by  their  magnitude.  Time  moves  with  measured  tread,  unheeding  our 
impatience.  It  has  taken  more  than  two  decades  to  readjust  the  movement 
of  our  national  life  along  the  line  of  human  progress. 

History  pauses  to  correct  its  earlier  mistakes  ere  it  fills  up  its  later  pages. 
A  quarter  century  has  not  yet  sufficed  to  reveal  the  full  meaning  of  that  four 
years'  struggle.  The  great  events  presaged,  and  the  grand  ideal  of  national 
integrity  enunciated,  will  fill  a  century  with  their  development. 

If  we  glance  backward  to  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  we  will  find  the  country 
was  in  the  condition  to  meet  some  great  trial;  to  need  some  strong  convulsion. 
Our  constitution  had  been  wisely  framed,  but  it  could  not  be  adjusted  to 
the  varying  conditions  of  the  age,  without  a  jar  in  the  movement  somewhere. 
The  fair  structure  of  our  Temple  of  Liberty  could  not  longer  be  sustained  on 
the  corner  stone  of  slavery.  The  foundations  were  weakening,  while  above 
the  dome,  where  hung  the  Flag  of  Freedom,  the  air  was  heavy  with  the 


ggo  ■  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

sulphurous  breath  of  latent  battle  rage.  At  length  the  gathering  storm  broke 
on  the  land.  The  pen  had  done  its  work.  Embittered  passions  had  refused 
to  yield,  and  statesmanship  had  faulted.  It  was  time  the  sword,  unsheathed, 
should  pierce  the  cloud  and  let  the  lightning  loose,  to  clear  the  air  from  fratri- 
cidal hate,  and  doubt,  and  discontent.  Then  came  the  signal  gun  at  Sumter; 
and  then  came  the  hurrying  multitudes  from  North  and  South,  to  test  their 
issues  on  the  field  of  strife.  Thus  the  war  began  that  made  and  unmade 
history.  It  lifted  into  prominence  men  fitted  to  be  leaders,  and  gave  to  ob- 
scure localities  a  record  as  enduring  as  time.  To  such  a  place  our  feet  have 
turned  to-day,  that  we  might  study  at  this  later  hour  the  record  of  that  three 
days'  battlefield,  the  turning  point  of  General  Lee's  success,  and  place  among 
the  monuments  erected  here  in  honor  of  the  dead,  the  statue  of  a  chief  whose 
memory  we  revere. 

Among  the  illustrious  soldiers  whose  valor  has  given  renown  to  each  locality 
on  this  historic  field,  the  name  of  General  Warren  is  closely  associated  with 
the  glories  of  Little  Round  Top.  Standing  here,  we  can  see  the  angle  that 
indicates  the  "  high-water  mark  of  the  Rebellion  "  —  that  swelling  flood  of 
Southern  victory  that  dashed  against  the  living  walls  of  Union  breasts,  and 
beaten  back,  bore  on  its  refluent  tide  the  shattered  prestige  of  the  pride  and 
valor  of  Lee's  Invincibles. 

But,  on  the  previous  day,  here  Warren  stood,  and  checked  the  advancing 
march  of  the  invading  foe,  that  threatened  to  overwhelm  the  height.  Had  he 
been  absent,  or  less  able  to  meet  the  crisis,  the  high-water  mark  of  the  gray 
line  of  battle  would  have  missed  the  "  bloody  angle  "  and  the  "  clump  of  trees," 
and  by  the  way  of  Round  Top,  and  one  day  earlier,  would  have  swept  the 
army  of  the  North  from  its  victorious  front,  and  spread  its  volume  of  in- 
vasion through  this  broad  commonwealth.  Here  it  is  fitting  that  this  monu- 
ment should  stand,  and  tell  to  coming  ages  the  story  of  his  alertness  and 
military  prescience;  and,  standing  here  on  this  the  anniversary  of  his  death, 
it  is  well  to  pause  and  dwell  a  moment  on  the  record  of  his  life. 

Gouverneur  Kemble  Warren,  the  hero  of  the  day,  and  of  this  eminence,  was 
born  at  Cold  Spring,  on  the  Hudson,  January  8,  1830.  Cradled  amid  the 
highlands  of  that  storied  river,  his  infant  ears  were  daily  assailed  by  the  sound 
of  the  morning  and  evening  gun  at  West  Point,  and  his  boyhood's  ardor  was 
aroused  by  the  strains  of  martial  music  that  floated  across  the  stream.  Living 
within  sight  of  the  Academy,  and  a  frequent  visitor  to  it,  we  can  imagine  how 
the  associations  and  traditions  of  that  locality  would  fill  the  mind  of  the  am- 
bitious youth  with  ardent  aspirations  for  a  military  career.  Having  passed 
through  the  schools  of  his  native  place,  he  spent  one  year  at  a  neighboring 
academy,  and  then  his  desires  were  fulfilled,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  re- 
ceived his  cadet  appointment,  graduating  July  i,  1850,  and  standing  second 
in  a  class  of  forty-four  members.  He  was  at  once  assigned  to  the  corps  of 
topographical  engineers,  in  the  grade  of  brevet  second  lieutenant.  In  this 
congenial  sphere:  he  found  ample  scope  for  his  investigations  in  different 
branches  of  science,  and  throughout  life  he  maintained  his  fondness  for  these 
pursuits  as  a  relaxation  from  the  more  arduous  duties  of  his  profession. 

Time  will  not  permit,  neither  will  the  occasion  justify  me  in  making  more 
than  a  passing  allusion  to  the  events  of  this  period  of  his  life.    As  an  assistant 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  981 

to  Captain  Humphrey,  he  was  engaged  Upon  the  investigations  and  surveys  of 
the  Mississippi  Delta.  While  employed  in  these  duties  he  compiled  a  map  of 
the  then  wilderness  lying  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  conducted  three  separate 
expeditions  in  Dakota  and  Nebraska.  In  the  pursuit  of  these  investigations 
he  passed  through  the  eastern,  southern, 'and  western  outskirts  of  the  "  Black 
Hills,"  and  was  the  first  explorer  of  that  now  famoiis  locality.  Thus  the 
interval  between  his  graduation  and  his  return  to  West  Point  as  an  instructor, 
was  filled  with  those  active  and  diversified  duties  which  made  up  the  eventful 
life  of  an  officer  of  the  engineer  corps  on  the  frontier.  Nor  was  the  service 
without  peril.  The  Indian-infested  forests  and  the  blizzard-swept  plains  tried 
both  nerve  and  endurance.  While  serving  on  the  staff  of  General  Harney  he 
ran  the  gauntlet  of  danger  through  the  Indian  country  as  the  bearer  of  des- 
patches, and  there  displayed  that  courage  and  sagacity  which  were  afterwards 
conspicuous  on  larger  fields  of  action.  By  these  varied  experiences  the  young 
lieutenant  was  being  fitted  for  positions  of  graver  responsibility,  and  the  field 
of  more  imminent  danger,  to  which  his  country  would  later  call  him.  Steadily, 
studiously,  faithfully,  amid  the  heats  of  summer  and  the  rigor  of  winter  he 
met  each  call  of  duty.  With  an  ambition  as  laudable  as  it  was  aspiring,  he 
sought  to  make  the  most  of  his  opportunities,  and  to  cultivate  the  brilliant 
natural  talents  with  which  he  was  endowed.  As  among  his  classmates  in  the 
Academy  he  easily  led  the  majority,  so  among  his  associates  in  the  field  his 
abilities  were  recognized,  and  his  pre-eminence  maintained. 

From  the  scientific  pursuits  of  a  military  engineer,  to  the  position  of  As- 
sistant Professor  of  Mathematics  in  the  halls  of  his  Alma  Mater,  was  a  natural' 
transition  for  one  of  his  acquirements;  and  there  the  call  to  arms  found  him. 
The  alarm  of  war  that  filled  the  North  with  the  spirit  of  military  ardor  had 
awakened  a  responsive  thrill  in  the  heart  of  the  young  professor,  and,  obtaining 
leave  of  absence  for  that  purpose,  he  accepted  the  position  of  lieutenant  colonel 
of  the  Fifth  New  York  Volunteers,  which  was  early  tendered  to  him.  This 
regiment,  with  which  his  fame  became  identified,  was  composed  of  material 
above  the  average;  men  who  had  been  attracted  to  the  organization  by  the 
prestige  of  a  name  famous  in  the  annals  of  the  New  York  State  Militia.  As 
soon  as  organized,  it  displayed  those  characteristics  of  individuality  and  ex- 
cellence, which  made  the  name  of  "  Duryee  Zouaves ''  synonymous  with  all 
that  was  highest  in  soldierly  attainments.  Early  at  the  front,  it  received  its 
first  baptism  of  fire  at  Big  Bethel,  where  Warren  revealed  those  traits  of  cool- 
ness and  good  judgment  which  were  conspicuous  elements  of  his  nature. 

The  regiment  was  soon  ordered  to  Baltimore  to  suppress  the  turbulence  of 
the  Southern  sympathizers,  and  there  the  young  lieutenant  colonel  was  called 
to  the  command,  on  the  promotion  of  its  organizer.  To  the  perfection  of  the 
regiment,  already  well  drilled  in  the  school  of  the  militia,  Warren  brought  the 
thoroughness  of  the  Regular  Army  routine.  On  Federal  Hill  he  gave  them 
practical  lessons  in  the  school  of  the  engineer,  and  on  the  adjacent  squares  he 
drilled  them  in  manual  and  manoeuvre,  until  they  reached  that  point  of  ex- 
cellence which  made  them  afterwards  the  pride  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  obtained  for  them  the  distinction  of  being  brigaded  with  General  Sykes' 
Division  of  Regulars,  when  they  were  ordered  to  the  Peninsula, 


982  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

He  knew  his  men  and  trusted  them,  and  that  trust  was  never  abused.  Those 
for  whom  he  did  so  much,  did  much  for  him,  and  in  the  hour  of  need  they 
never  failed  him.-  When  later  he  was  taken  from  their  immediate  command 
they  followed  his  career  with  affectionate  pride,  and  every  honor  he  won  was 
cheered  by  his  old  command.  What,  then,  more  fitting  than  that  to  those 
faithful  admirers  should  fall  the  pleasant  service  of  placing  this  monument  in 
position,  and  dedicating  it  to  his  memory? 

The  story  of  General  Warren's  advancement  is  the  history  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  From  Yorktown  to  Five  Forks  each  battle  was  the  field  of 
his  achievements,  and  each  disaster  was  mitigated'  by  his  skill  and  energy  as 
a  staflf  or  general  officer. 

At  Hanover  Court  House  he  commanded  a  brigade.  At  Gaines'  Mill  his 
•command  lost  heavily,  and  he  was  wounded.  At  Malvern  Hill  he  repulsed  the 
enemy,  and  saved  the  remnant  of  our  army.  At  Manassas,  by  the  sacrifice 
of  249  out  of  490  soldiers  of  his  own  regiment,  he  covered  the  withdrawal  of 
the  corps.  At  Antietam  and  Fredericksburg,  he  was  ever  the  same  capable, 
efficient,  and  daring  commander.  At  Chancellorsville,  on  Marye's  Heights, 
and  in  the  action  at  Salem  Church,  his  star  was  ever  seen  where  the  storm 
clouds  of' battle  raged  fiercest.  On  the  8th  of  June,  1863,  he  was  appointed 
chief  engineer  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  it  was  while  serving  in  this 
capacity  oh  the  staff  of  General  Meade  that  he  so  signally  contributed  to  the 
repulse  of  the  enemy  on  the  2d  of  July,  and  gave  occasion  for  this  gathering 
to  commemorate  the  turning  point  of  battle  on  that  fateful  day.  But  for  his 
foresight  and  energy  the  field  of  Gettysburg  would  not  only  be  the  cemetery 
of  our  dead,  but,  in  the  words  of  an  able  military  critic, — "  It  might  have 
been  the  grave  of  the  Union." 

After  Gettysburg  the  arena  broadens,  and  with  larger  command  came  the 
opportunity  for  more  honorable  distinction.  Appointed  major  general  of  vol- 
unteers, on  August  8th,  he  was  assigned  to  the  temporary  command  of  the 
Second  Corps;  and  at  Bristoe  Station  he  displayed  brilliant  generalship,  in 
holding  Hill's  two  divisions  in  check,  until,  by  a  happy  manoeuvre,  he  ex- 
tricated himself  from  a  dangerous  situation.  At  Mine  Run  he  had  the  moral 
courage  to  risk  the  sacrifice  of  his  future  prospects,  when  he  saw  that  the 
assault  he  was  commanded  to  make  could  only  result  in  the  useless  slaughter 
of  his  men. 

At  length,  assigned  to  the  permanent  command  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  the 
steady  march  of  events  bears  him  on  the  tide  of  successful  generalship  and 
well-earned  distinction,  until  the  moment  of  the  crowning  victory  and  sorrow 
of  his  life.  It  was  at  the  assault  on  the  last  line  of  the  enemy  at  Five  Forks, 
when,  after  fighting  their  way  through  the  woods,  our  troops  having  halted 
for  a  moment,  Warren  leaped  forward,  and,  seizing  the  flag  of  his  corps,  he  led 
his  cheering  followers  to  victory. 

Speaking  of  this  act,  Swinton  says:  "The  history  of  the  war  presents  no 
equally  splendid  illustration  of  personal  magnetism."  Such,  also,  is  the  wit- 
ness of  those  present,  who  beheld  the  gallant  leader  of  this  glorious  charge. 
But  when  the  hand  was  lifted  in  glad  exultation  to  seize  so  well-won  and  so 
hard-contested  a  prize,  suddenly  it  was  stricken  to  his  side  by  a  blow  that, 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  983 

all  unforeseen,  and  undeserved,  fell  with  sudden  force  and  shattered  every 
soldierly  aspiration.  Too  proud  to  murmur  at  the  unequal  rewards  of  dis- 
tinguished services,  the  sword  of  a  hero  was  sheathed  at  that  hour,  never  to 
be  drawn  again. 

The  professional  employments  that  filled  the  remainder  of  his  career  are 
recorded  in  the  annals  of  the  War  Department.  Resigning  his  commission 
in  the  volunteer  service  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  the  pleasing 
duties  of  the  Engineer  Corps,  where  his  cultivated  tastes  and  scholarly  ac- 
complishments fitted  him  for  the  prominent  appointments  he  received.  His 
love  for  his  country,  and  his  recognition  of  its  claims,  made  him  faithful  to 
the  varied  interests  that  were  intrusted  to  his  care. 

But,  while  the  wrong  that  had  been  done  him  ever  cried  for  redress,  no 
obligation  was  slighted,  no  professional  service  neglected,  no  just  claim  un- 
heeded. Although  faithful  to  every  call  of  duty,  and  earning  well  the  honors 
and  rewards  that  still  came  to  him,  the  lofty  sense  of  right  that  always  actuated 
him  could  not  rest  under  the  cloud  that  shadowed  his  military  renown.  With 
that  indomitable  persistence  that  was  natural  to  him,  he  sought  to  undo  the 
wrong  of  the  past.  Thus  fifteen  years  were  spent  in  useless  sacrifice  and  heart- 
wearying  anxiety,  in  the  vain  attempt  to  make  justice  bandage  her  eyes  with 
righteousness,  arid  not  with  prejudice.  But  when  the  irreversible  was  decreed, 
the  strength  of  his  soul  was  turned  to  bitter  weakness,  and  he  who  never  shrunk 
from  living  foe,  turned  from  the  prejudiced  misjudgments  of  changeable  popu- 
lar favor  to  one  whose  faith  had  kept  her  close  to  God  when  he  was  standing 
here  so  close  to  death,  and  whose  heart  had  never  failed  him  in  those  after  years 
of  bitter,  unavailing  struggle  for  the  right. 

And  he  found  other  tried  and  loyal  friends  who  stood  unshaken  in  their  un- 
yielding faith  and  friendship.  Outside  the  circle  of  these  true  hearts  the  then 
misunderstanding  crowd  might  doubt  and  question;  but  they  who  knew  the 
man  so  well,  and  read  his  heart  so  clearly,  were  never  blinded  by  a  decision 
that  did  not  decide,  nor  swayed  by  the  movements  of  the  bending  multitude. 

Here,  on  the  spot  where  he  stood  when  the  rising  sun  of  prosperous  favor 
was  aspiring  towards  the  zenith  of  his  fame,  we  place  his  monument.  History 
attests  the  justice  of  the  situation.  General  Doubleday  says :  "  This  eminence 
should  have  been  the  first  point  held  and  fortified  by  us  early  in  the  day,  as  it 
was  the  key  of  the  field ;  but  no  special  orders  were  given  concerning  it,  and 
nothing  but  Warren's  activity  and  foresight  saved  it  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy."  Here  let  him  stand  in  bronze  who  once  stood  here  in 
life,  and  with  his  presence  filled  a  fatal  gap  left  in  the  troops'  alignment ;  and 
where  his  energy  and  ardor  met  the  eager  assault  of  a  confident  enemy,  and 
turned  a  threatened  disaster  into  glorious  victory. 

There  is  an  old  saying:  "  It  is  the  unexpected  that  always  happens."  This 
is  a  truism  when  applied  to  military  strategy.  All  praise  to  him  who,  when 
the  unexpected  comes,  is  found  prepared  to  meet  it.  God  has  stationed  His 
sentries  on  the  hill  tops  of  Time  to  guard  the  danger  points  along  the  line  of 
His  developments.  Who  can  doubt  that  Warren  was  the  Sentinel  of  Prov- 
idence to  guard  against  a  surprise  which  would  have  been  disastrous  to  our 
army,  and  fatal  to  our  cause?    If  he  had  not  stood  where  in  silent  semblance 


984  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

he  now  stands,  and  met  the  unexpected  at  this  unguarded  point,  there  would 
have  been  no  third  day's  fight  at  Gettysburg;  and  the  story  of  Pickett's  gallant 
charge  and  its  no  less  heroic  repulse  would  never  have  made  the  page  of  history 
brighter  with  its  record  of  daring  and  undoing. 

As  we  gaze  upon  these  features  cast  in  bronze,  upon  the  soldierly  form,  and 
the  expectant  attitude,  we  seem  to  catch  the  inspiration  of  the  moment,  and 
to  see  the-imminence  of  the  crisis.  The  figure  stands  alert,  aroused,  intent, 
as  if  conscious  of  a  moment  of  destiny.  He  has  caught  the  gleaming  of  rifle 
barrels  amid  the  foliage  of  the  trees.  They  reveal  the  presence  of  the  enemy. 
The  aroused  instinct  of  the  trained  soldier  perceives  that  Hood  is  about  to 
sweep  down  upon  our  left.  He  takes  in  at  a  glance  the  full  meaning  of  the 
movement.  Not  that  this  or  that  corps  will  be  sacrificed,  but  that  the  results 
of  all  the  long  marches,  sieges,  and  battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  would 
be  lost,  and  the  whole  phase  of  the  war  would  be  changed;  that  the  Army 
of  Virginia  would  become  the  Army  of  Invasion,  and  the  North  would  have 
to  fight  to  defend  its  hearthstones;  that  the  long  withheld  aid  and  comfort 
of  alien  nations  would  be  extended  from  across  the  sea;  that  from  the 
situation  of  an  almost  vanquished,  disheartened  and  impoverished  foe,  the 
Confederacy  would  stand  forth  as  an  allied  power,  with  aid  unstinted,  resources 
unlimited,  and  a  position  invulnerable.  For  an  instant,  with  the  prescience 
of  a  prophet,  he  beholds  these  possible  results  of  the  impending  movement; 
then,  with  a  word  of  warning  to  the  signal  man  beside  him,  he  turns  with 
head-long  rush  for  relief. 

Can  we  doubt  that  in  that  supreme  moment  of  anxiety  his  heart  went  out  in 
eager  longing  for  the  men  of  his  old  command?  Is  it  chance  that  at  this 
moment  the  remnant  of  his  old  regiment  is  approaching?  As  if  conscious  of 
their  loved  commander's  peril,  they  were  pressing  forward  anxious  to  be  in  the 
fray,  not  knowing  where  they  first  would  feel  the  enemy;  and  as  Warren,  in 
his  hurried  quest  for  help,  and  they  with  eager  response  to  an  unknown  guiding, 
are  drawing  nearer,  what  joy  fills  his  heart  as  he  sees  the  men  he  longs  for 
advancing;  and  with  what  a  shout  they  recognize  the  leader  they  most  admire! 
It  needs  but  a  word  of  explanation  to  their  commander;  then  comes  the 
struggle  for  the  possession  of  this  hill.  At  last  they  have  found  their  true 
direction.  Where  Warren  leads  the  way,  the  men  he  trained  would  never 
doubt  or  question;  and  while  he  turns  to  bring  them  aid  they  reach  the  crest 
of  the  hill,  and  here,  and  not  one  moment  too  soon,  they  feel  the  edge'  of  the 
strife,  and  the  hot  flame  01  the  battle  fans  their  cheeks.  Then  followed  the 
conflict,  as  hand-to-hand  with  Hood's  veterans  they  struggle  for  the  prize  of 
Round  Top,  the  "  key  to  the  whole  position  of  Gettysburg/'  as  it  is  called 
by  the  Confederate,  Gen.  E.  M.  Law,  who  commanded  the  attack. 

Could  these  stones  speak,  what  stories  they  might  tell !  For  hours  the  battle 
raged  where  we  now  stand,  and  rock  and  soil  alike  were  wet  with  tears  of 
human  blood.  Here  Vincent  fell,  and  Weed,  and  Hazlett,  and  O'Rorke! 
What  costly  sacrifices  for  these  wind-swept  rocks!  But  the  sacrifices  are  not 
too  great  when  estimated  in  the  gauge  of  war.  This  hilltop  was  the  high 
road  to  the  North,  if  Hood  had  been  successful. 

These  rocks  were  priceless  that  barred  his  progress.  Each  boulder  was  a 
breastwork  for  a  Union  soldier.    Each  crevice  formed  a  shelter  for  our  men 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  985 

to  thwart  the  purpose  of  the  foe,  who,  all  too  soon,  had  claimed  the  prize. 
Here  our  brave  troops  held  their  position  hour  by  hour,  and  when  the  shadows 
of  the  night  fell  on  the  scene,  and  hushed  the  hideous  clamor  of  the  fight, 
they  held  it  still;  and  held  it  on  the  morrow,  and  held  it  for  this  day,  that  here, 
again  assembling  where  they  fought,  they  might  once  more  clasp  hands,  and 
in  this  sculptured  presence  speak  of  him  who  was  the  hour's  man,  whose 
promptitude  and  generalship  made  victory  possible. 

In  summing  up  the  character  of  General  Warren  we  must  be  brief.  It  is 
not  well  to  weary  patience  with  our  praise.  Some  one  has  said  he  was  am- 
bitious. Let  us  be  thankful  that  he  was.  A  loving  hand  has  written  these 
words:  "Ambition  seemed  inborn  with  him,  not  so  much  from  a  desire  for 
fame,  but  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  do  well  whatever  he  undertook,  and  a  hope 
to  be  of  service  to  his  fellow  men."  If  to  be  ambitious  means  to  be  a  better 
student,  a  greater  soldier,  a  truer  friend,  then  let  ambition  rule  where  none 
are  wronged,  and  all  are  helped  by  better  leadership.  If  he  had  not  been 
ambitious,  there  would  have  been  no  Warren  Monument  to  dedicate  to-day. 

As  might  have  been  expected  in  a  man  with  his  tenacity  of  purpose,  he 
was  unswerving  in  devotion  to  the  cause  .in  which  he  believed.  For  years  he 
studied  the  questions  that  aroused  sectional  antagonism,  and  when  the  hour 
came  he  was  prepared  for  the  issue.  From  that  time  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  no  toil  could  be  too  severe,  no  sacrifice  too  great,  no  trial  too  exacting, 
to  advance  the  interest  of  the  government  he  honoredj  and  the  service  he  so 
much  loved. 

No  issue  could  distract  him,  no  falsehood  blind  him.  Throughout  he  clearly 
saw  the  one  duty  of  suppressing  the  Rebellion,  and  to  it  every  energy  of  his 
will,  and  every  faculty  of  his  mind  was  directed. 

He  belonged  to  a  profession  that  is  not  ashamed  to  die  poor.  When  a 
fortune  could  be  made  by  losing  a  battle,  and  the  future  assured  against  want 
by  a  false  move  in  strategy,  all  honor  to  the  sword  bearers  who  kept  their 
blades  bright  from  the  rust  of  corruption.  .The  soldier,  whose  fame  we  honor, 
avoided  many  an  opportunity  to  obtain  wealth  unworthily,  by  turning  his  back 
on  temptation,  and  keeping  his  eye  steadfast  on  duty.  When  millions  were 
springing  up  like  mushrooms  along  the  bloody  trail  of  war,  he  would  not 
stoop  from  the  lofty  altitude  of  hero,  to  ply  the  trade  of  huckster  in  the  spoils 
of  the  conquered.  A  single  purpose  animated  him,  to  bring  to  a  speedy  issue 
the  strife  of  brotherhood,  by  striking  hard,  and  doing  utmost  damage  where 
it  was  needful;  but  preventing  all  wanton  destruction  of  property,  and  opposing 
the  needless  effusion  of  blood.  And  thus  the  end  of  the  war  found  him  com- 
paratively poor,  but  rich  in  honor  and  renown,  and  those  treasures  that  are 
beyond  all  price. 

Those  who  never  penetrated  the  circle  of  his  official  reserve,  or  who  only 
saw  him  in  the  rage  of  battle,  could  little  understand  the  kindness  of  his 
heart.  As  a  child,  he  was  remarkable  for  gentleness.  He  was  known  at 
home  as  "The  tender-hearted  boy;"  and  later  in  life,  among  the  Indians  of 
the  plains,  he  was  called  "  The  good  Lieutenant."  Even  long  familiarity  with 
scenes  of  strife  and  the  carnage  of  the  battlefield  could  not  harden  him  to 
human  suffering.    Writing  to  his  brother  on  this  subject  he  said:  "  I  do  not 


Qg6  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

feel  it  much  in  my  own  person,  but  I  sympathize  so  much  with  the  suffering 
around  me,  that  it  seems  at  times  I  can  hardly  endure  it."  Those  who  knew 
him  intimately  have  heard  him  relate,  with  keen  appreciation,  the  following 
incident:  When,  after  a  long  and  fatiguing  march  and  battle,  he  had  thrown 
himself  on  the  ground  for  needed  rest,  upon  awakening  he  found  a  soldier's 
coat  thrown  over  him.  "  Some  poor  fellow,"  he  said,  "  had  deprived  himself 
of  it  in  his  kind  thought  for  me." 

Thus  we  behold  the  Soldier  and  the  Man.  Kind,  true,  and  brave,  with  a 
contempt  for  mere  showiness  and  pretence,  he  had  respect  for  solid  worth 
wherever  found.  In  his  relations  to  his  brother  officers  of  the  volunteer  ser- 
vice, he  was  always  appreciative  of  true  merit,  never  allowing  his  prejudices 
in  favor  of  academic  training  to  interfere  with'  the  recognition  and  promotion 
of  military  genius.  If  he  saw  a  star  ascendant,  it  challenged  his  admiration  and 
esteem,  whether  it  came  from  West  Point,  or  a  village  school. 

In  the  semi-civil  position  he  occupied  after  the  close  of  the  war,  his  interest 
in  the  social  life  around  him  was  always  very  marked.  Although  naturally  re- 
served, he  was  never  a  recluse,  and  while  he  was  intensely  appreciative  of 
domestic  joys,  yet  in  every  place  he  lived  his  public  services,  and  private  worth, 
procured  for  him  the  warm  attachment  of  personal  friends.  This  appreciation 
was  shown  in  their  recognition  and  praise  of  his  professional  achievements,  and 
brilliant  intellectual  and  social  qualities,  and  their  unobtrusive  sympathy  with 
him  in  the  great  sorrow  of  his  life.  Living,  they  gladly  called  him  friend,  and 
when  dead,  they  sought  to  perpetuate  his  memory  with  mortuary  honors. 

Among  the  distinctions  that  attach  to  his  fame  none  is  more  significant  than 
the  fact  that  so  many  localities  aspired  to  the  privilege  of  having  this  monu- 
ment placed  in  their  midst.  While  Newport  holds  his  precious  dust,  and  deco- 
rates his  grave.  Cold  Spring,  his  birthplace,  asserts  its  earlier  claims  to 
recognition,  and  West  Point  envies  Gettysburg.  Here  let  it  stand  through 
coming  years,  among  the  monuments  of  this  great  battlefield. 

O  Warren!  stand  as  firmly  fixed  in  all  our  hearts  as  thou  art  planted  in  this 
soHd  rock!  The  hand  of  man  has  carved  the  base  for  other  statues,  but  his 
sure  pedestal  was  wrought  by  a  mightier  hand.  As  firmly  as  the  everlasting 
hills,  so  shall  it  stand,  unmoved  by  heat  or  frost  or  passing  tempest-tumult,  with 
unchanged  attitude  of  watchfulness,  as  if  intent  to  guard  our  future  as  he  did 
our  past.  And  when  our  lips  are  mute,  and  in  the  grave's  dark  gloom  our 
eyes  have  lost  their  sight,  may  he,  still  standing  here,  behold  the  coming 
grandeur  of  our  elder  age;  a  Nation  living  in  the  unity  of  peace,  whose  sons 
have  learned  the  lessons  of  their  father's  bitter  past.  Then  there  will  be  no 
North,  no  South;  but  one  broad,  prosperous  country  under  Freedom's  Flag. 
And  when  another  century  has  run  its  course,  and  men  shall  ask:  "  Who 
placed  this  statue  here?"  then  let  tradition  answer:  "Those  who  loved  him 
best."  And  when  the  record  inscribed  upon  this  tablet  shall  be  obscured  by 
Time's  effacing  hand,  let  later  History  write  this  epitaph: 

Among  the  heroes  of  undying  fame,  whose  names  are  written  on  the  Nation's 
heart,  there  never  lived  a  truer  patriot  than  Warren. 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT. 


147th    new   YORK    INFANTRY. 


.  J.  SEVERKNCE,  PHOTO. 


On  the  battlefield  of  the  E'irst  Corps  (first  day).  The  Chambersburg  Pike  and  Lutheran  Seminary  are  Id 
the  background  on  the  right.  The  railroad  cut  in  the  left  background  is  not  the  one  at  which  the 
regiment  fought. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


987, 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


{Left  Side.) 
Chancellorsville 
Mine  Run 
Wilderness 
Spotsylvania  ■ 
North  Anna 
Cold  Harbor 
Petersburg 
Weldon,  R.  R. 


(Front.) 

147th 

NEW  YORK 

INFANTRY, 

2d  BRIGADE, 

1st  DIVISION, 

1st  CORPS. 

(Reverse.) 

Position  10  A.  M. 

July  i,  1863. 

Killed  and  wounded 

HERE,  212. 
Killed  and  mortally 

WOUNDED,  76 

Wounded     146 
Missing,         79 
Total. Loss  301 
Number  engaged  380 


(Right  Side.) 
Yellow  House 
Peebles'  Farm 
Hatcher's  Run 
Dabney's  Mill 
Gravelly  Run 
White  Oak  Road 
Five  Forks 
Appomattox 


988  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

uhth.  regiment  infantry. 

July  I,  1888. 

'Address  by  Capt.  J.  V.  Pierce. 

Comrades  : 

If  ever  thankfulness  and  gratitude  springs  from  heart  to  lip  it  is  on  an  oc- 
casion like  this.  It  is  gratitude  to  Him  who  sheltered  us  in  the  battle's  con- 
test,—  by  whose  mercy  we  are  not  among  our  comrades  who  never  came 
home;  for,  to-day,  we  clasp  hands  with  living  comrades  across  a  quarter  of  a 
century. 

I  come  to  meet  you  and  greet  you  from  the  emerald  plains  of  the  West, 
where  the  golden  sunlight  kisses  the  fruitful  fields;  where  the  soft  southland 
breezes  fan  the  nodding  corn  to  a  glorious  harvest;  where  Nature,  in  her 
milder  moods,  invites  the  whole  world  to  her  rich  garner  that  comes  responsive 
to  the  touch  of  honest  toil ;  where  majesty  rules  all  nature  in  her  angry  moods, 
the  counterpart  of  the  wild  war  days  that  witnessed  her  conception  and  her 
birth ;  a  Commonwealth  conceived  in  slavery,  born  into  Freedom's  Sisterhood 
of  States,  while  riot,  bloodshed,  fire  and  sword  ruled  in  wild  revels  around  her 
cradle,  the  glorious  land  of  sunflowers,  the  Empire  Soldier  State  of  the  Union  — 
Kansas.  I  bring  you  greetings  from  100,000  comrades,  who  send  you  "  Cheers 
and  God-speed  "  in  your  effort  to  perpetuate  the  names  and  deeds  of  our  com- 
rades, who  on  this  spot  gave  their  lives  for  Freedom  and  tor  Fatherland,  and 
made  the  battle  name  "  Gettysburg  "  famous  throughout  the  world. 

We  are  proud  of  the  past.  Blot  it  from  our  record  we  would  not;  forget  it, 
we  would  not  if  we  could. 

We  believe  in  perpetuating  in  marble  and  bronze,  in  song  and  in  story,  the 
grand  principles  of  Union,  of  human  liberty,  of  patriotism  and  a  glorious 
memory. 

Join  with  us,  O  Veterans  in  Gray!  Join  with  us,  O  South  Land!  Let  us  weld 
anew  the  links  that  bind  all  interests,  all  issues,  and  all  endeavors,  to  the  making 
of  a  new  Nation  named  Union,  Friendship,  Peace. 

In  the  sorrowing  days  of  the  sixties,  Whittier  sang: 

"The  birds  against  the  April  sky 

Flew  northward  singing  as  they  flew; 
They  sang,  '  The  land  we  leave  behind 

Has  swords  for  corn-blades, —  blood  for  dew.' 
*  *  *  *  * 

"  Oh,  wild  birds,  flying  from  the  south, 

What  saw  ye, —  heard  ye, —  gazing  down? 
'We  saw  the  mortar's  upturned  mouth. 

The  sickening  camp,  the  blazing  town,' 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  9^9 

'  We  heard  the  sorrowing  prisoners  sigh, 

And  saw  from  line  and  trench  your  sons 
Follow  our  flight  with  homesick  eye, 
Beyond  the  battery's  smoking  guns.' " 


In  the  'seventies  — 

'  We  saw  the  new  uprising  States, 

The  treason-nursing  mischief  spurned, 
As  crowding  Freedom's  ample  gates, 

The  long  estranged  and  lost  returned.' 
*  :f  *  *  * 

"  And  sweet  and  far  as  from  a  star. 

Replied  a  voice  which  shall  not  cease 
Till  drowning  all  the  voice  of  War 
It  sings  the  blessed  songs  of  Peace." 

In  theee  days  of  peace  we  turn  the  leaves  of  the  worn  volumes  of  war 
memories,  build  our  tablets,  and  lay  our  garlands  down.  I  am  not  unmindful  of 
the  honor  conferred  on  me  on  this  occasion.  While  it  is  a  labor  of  love,  it  is 
a  sad  one,  and  yet  not  unmixed  with  pleasure.  Sad,  for  memory  will  run 
riot  with  the  names  and  faces  of  comrades  —  names  now  carved  in  marble ; 
faces,  "  Though  lost  to  sight,  to  memory  dear," —  boys  who  were  my  school- 
mates—  companions  of  my  youth;  and  as  the  phantom  finger  of  Time  draws 
aside  the  curtain  of  eternity,  they  come  marching  in  review.  Faces,  forms, 
songs  and  sayings  recall  their  glorious  deeds,  their  sufferings  and  their  death. 
Here  we  parted  from  them;  here  on  this  battle  line  where  the  blinding  smoke 
from  musketry  was  thickest;  where  this  hell  of  battle  snapped  their  threads  of 
life  with  blood-stained  hands;  here  where  their  lives  went  out,  fighting  the 
"  Crime  of  the  Century."  Old  soldiers  are  bound  by  ties  and  friendships  that 
cannot  be  understood  or  appreciated  by  others.  The  truest,  best  and  strongest 
ties  of  friendship  were  formed  in  times  of  greatest  peril. 

I  find  pleasure  in  recalling  the  history  of  the  old  regiment,  of  the  brigade, 
of  the  division,  and  of  the  army  corps,  hoping  I  may  contribute  in  some  degree 
towards  perpetuating  the  memories  of  my  comrades  dead,  and  stamp  their 
heroic  achievements  forever  on  the  hearts  of  the  Nation.  I  can  speak  of  my 
comrades  but  in  praise,  and  shall  lay  just  claims  for  credit  not  heretofore  ac- 
corded them  in  the  history  of  this  battlefield. 

We  read  among  the  old  German  legends  the  myth  of  Valhalla,  where  were 
thought  to  go  the  souls  of  the  brave.  "  There  were  believed  to  be  maidens 
fair  called  Valkyrs,  or  the  Choosers  of  the  Slain, —  Hilda,  Guda,  Treda,  Mista, 
and  others  who  floated  on  swans'  wings  over  the  camps  of  armies  before  a 
battle  and  chose  out  who  should  be  killed.  Nor  were  such  deaths  accounted 
a  disaster;  for  to  die  bravely  was  the  only  way  to  the  Hall  of  Woden  where 
the  valiant  enjoyed  on  the  other  side  of  the  rainbow  bridge  the  delight  they 
cared  for  most  in  life.    Shooting  stars  were  held  to  be  the  track  of  weapons 


990  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

carried  to  supply  fresh  comers  into  Valhalla.  Only  by  dying  gallantly  could 
entrance  be  won  there." 

Surely  the  Valkyrs  must  have  been  busy  during  the  night  of  June  30,  1863. 
Rapid  must  have  been  the  flight  of  the  shooting  stars,  as  they  flashed  across 
the  midnight  sky  from  the  deadly  aim  of  the  chosen  of  the  slain,  as  Hilda,  Guda, 
Treda,  Mista,  floated  on  swans'  wings  over  the  camps  of  the  Boys  in  Blue  and 
the  Boys  in  Gray.  Surely  Valhalla  never  received  into  its  portals  braver  spirits 
than  were  selected  by  the  shooting  stars  of  the  Valkyrs,  as  the  armies  slept  on 
the  nether  bank  of  Marsh  Creek  that  beautiful  June  night  and  July  morning. 
They  spared  neither  the  private  in  his  "  Blouse  the  Blue,  or  his  Blouse  the 
Gray." 

The  commander  and  the  commanded  were  called  alike  to  join  the  procession 
to  the  Hall  of  Woden;  but  of  all  who  left  us  on  that  day  of  battle,  none  died 
more  gloriously  than  the  old  commander  who  led  us  in  so  many  battles  —  the 
Bayard  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  Maj.  Gen.  John  F.  Reynolds. 

The  sun  had  started  the  fleecy  clouds  up  the  side  of  Round  Top,  as  the  long 
roll  sounded  from  the  brigade  headquarters,  July  i,  1863.  General  Cutler  was 
an  early  riser, —  his  tent  packed,  horse  saddled.  The  throbbing  drum  notes  of 
the  division  found  instant  echo  from  Cutler's  Brigade,  and  he  and  his  men  were 
ready  to  march.  My  breakfast,  two  hard  tack  and  a  tin  cup  of  black  coffee. 
This  was  my  fighting  meal,  and  the  only  one  till  July  4th.  What  a  full  meal 
would  have  done  for  me  on  that  occasion,  history  will  never  record. 

On  marching  from  Emmitsburg  to  Marsh  Creek,  June  30th,  the  First  Bri- 
gade led  the  division.  From  Marsh  Creek  to  this  battlefield  the  Second  Brigade 
led;  and  the  brigade  formation  from  right  to  left  was, —  eighteen  men  of  the 
One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New  York,  under  Sergt.  H.  H.  Hubbard,  as 
headquarter  guard,  followed  by  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York,  under  Major 
Grover;  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  Brvt.  Brig.  Gen.  J.  W.  Hofmann;  One  hun- 
dred and  forty-seventh  New  York,  Lieut.  Col.  F.  C.  Miller;  Fourteenth  Brook- 
l3'n,  Brvt.  Brig.  Gen.  E.  B.  Fowler;  and  Ninety-fifth  New  York,  Maj.  Edward 
Pye. 

The  distant  reports  of  artillery  tingled  the  ear  as  we  marched  up  the  Emmits- 
burg Pike.  White  circles  of  smoke  rising  in  the  air  told  of  bomb  bursts  where 
the  gallant  cavalry  boys  wer^  defending  the  line  of  Willoughby  Run  and  await- 
ing our  coming.  Orderlies  with  despatches  dashed  past  us  to  the  rear  with  the 
encouraging  intelligence  that  "  The  Rebs  were  thicker  than  blackberries  be- 
yond the  hill."  Pioneers  were  ordered  to  the  front,  fences  were  thrown  down, 
and,  as  we  passed  into  the  fields  near  the  Codori  House,  the  fierce  barking  of 
Calef's  Battery  redoubled.  With  it  came  the  order,  "Forward,  double-quick! 
Load  at  will!  "  Then  was  heard  the  wild  rattle  of  jingling  ramrods,  as  we  moved 
owards  the  sound  of  the  cannon.  No  straggling  now;  the  old  musket  was 
clinched  with  firmer  grasp.  The  death  grapple  was  at  hand.  As  we  <:rossed 
the  rocky  bed  of  Stevens'  Run,  Hall's  splendid  battery  dashed  past  us.  Horses 
with  distended  nostrils,  sides  white  with  foam,  now  wild  with  excitement,  hur- 
ried to  join  in  the  melee.  A  fence  at  the  crossing  of  the  Fairfield  Road  hindered 
the  battery.  We  climbed  the  fence,  and  passing  to  the  south  of  the  Seminary 
plunged  headlong  over  the  hill  into-  the  narrow  valley  between  the  Seminary 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  991 

and  the  McPherson  House  ridge.  The  air  was  full  of  flying  fragments  of  shell 
from  Confederate  guns  beyond  Willoughby  Run.  The  Fourteenth  Brooklyn 
and  Ninety-fifth  New  York  were  moved  to  the  front  of  the  McPherson  House, 
from  the  rear  of  our  column.  Lieut.  Col.  Miller,  not  having  any  orders,  halted 
the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  near  the  garden  with  a  picket  fence  at. the 
McPherson  House,  a  few  rods  east  of  the  stone  basement  barn  on  the  south 
side  of  the  pike,  and  rode  forward  for  orders.  Hall's  Battery  again  overtook 
and  passed  us  in  our  rear,  going  to  our  right,,  across  the  Chambersburg  Pike, 
and  into  position  between  the  pike  and  railroad  cut.  Lieut.  Col.  Miller  re- 
turned and  ordered  us  by  the  flank  to  the  right  at  a  double-quick  in  rear  of 
Hall's  Battery,  now  in  position  on  the  third  ridge.  We  crossed  the  railroad 
bed,  and  the  moment  the  left  of  the  regiment  cleared  it  the  order  came,  "  By 
the  left  flank;. guide  centre!  "  We  are  now  in  the  line  of  battle  moving  to  the 
west.  The  Seventy-sixth  New  York  and  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  with  the 
headquarters  guard,  had  preceded  us,  moving  along  the  rear  of  the  second 
ridge,  and  were  some  distance  to  our  right  and  rear,  on  the  second  ridge, 
and  not  on  alignment  with  us.  While  we  were  advancing  in  the  wheat- 
field  the  battle  opened  on  our  right,  and  the  bullets  from  the  enemy  were  flying 
thick  and  fast  as  we  marched  rapidly  towards  our  opponents.  The  wheat 
heads  fell  with  rapid  noddings,  as  the  bullets  from  the  Confederate  line  com- 
menced their  harvest  of  death.  Men  dropped  dead,  and  the  wounded  men 
went  to  the  rear  before  they  had  emptied  their  muskets;  Corp.  Fred.  Rife  and 
his  file  closer,  Hiram  Stowell,  dropped  dead,  one  upon  the  other.  We  continued 
to  advance  in  the  nodding  wheat  of  death  until  our  left  touched  on  the  railroad 
cut,  supporting  Hall's  Battery.  "  Lie  down !  fire  through  the  wheat  close  to 
ground ! "  The  battle  was  now  on  in  all  its  fierceness ;  a  continuous  roar  of 
musketry  drowned  all  orders.  Lieut.  Col.  Miller  received  a  wound  in  the  head, 
and  his  frightened  horse  carried  him  from  the  field.  On  Maj.  George  Harney 
the  duty  fell  to  command ;  none  more  worthy  than  he.  On  this  field  he  wore  a 
"  star  "  in  the  estimation  of  his  command. 

Capt.  Delos  Gary  dropped  on  one  knee,  close  in  my  rear,  with  a  bullet  wound 
in  the  head;  Capt.  Than.  Wright,  just  to  my  right,  was  pounding  the  ground 

and  yelling  at  the  top  of  his  voice  to  "  give  them  h ."    The  firing  of  the 

enemy  in  my  immediate  front  slackened,  and  the  enemy  retired  towards  the 
right.  I  moved  my  men  forward  a  few  yards  further  to  the  crest  of  the  ridge 
with  the  m.en  of  Company  C,  and  discovered  a  line  of  Confederate  skirmishers 
on  our  front,  advancing  from  the  valley  up  a  slope  towards  a  rail  fence,  firing  as 
they  advanced  into  Hall's  Battery,  while  the  battery  was  fighting  for  dear  life. 
A  detachment  of  Confederates  gathered  in  a  fence  corner,  a  short  distance  be- 
yond the  cut.  I  immediately  ordered,  "  Left  oblique,  fire."  The  order  was 
responded  to  by  the  two  left  companies,  G  and  C.  Several  rounds  were  fired 
into  the  skirmish  lines;  it  became  too  hot  for  them,  and  I  saw  them  return 
down  the  hill,  with  several  of  their  number  stretched  on  the  hillside.  Hall's 
Battery  had  been  fighting  that  skirmish  line  in  a  death  grapple.  "Artillery 
against  skirmishers  is  like  shooting  mosquitoes  with  a  rifle."  The  Confederate 
skirmishers  had  the  best  of  it  up  to  the  time  the  left  of  the  One  hundred  and 
forty-seventh  Regiment  opened  on  them.    The  moment  the  battery  was  relieved 


992 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


from  the  force  of  the  attack  it  began  to  limber  to  the  rear,  and,  as  the  Con- 
federate skirmishers  fell  back,  the  battery  disappeared  in  a  cloud  of  dust  on  the 
Chambersburg  Pike.  While  this  was  taking  place  on  the  left,  the  battle  reopened 
on  the  right  with  redoubled  fury,  and  the  cry  came  down  the  line,  "  They  are 
flanking  us  on  the  right."  The  right  companies,  by  Major  Harney's  orders, 
swung  back  on  the  south  side  of  the  rail  fence;  the  left  front  of  the  regiment 
was  relieved  of  pressure  from  the  enemy,  who  either  laid  concealed  close  under 
the  ridge  at  the  west  end  of  the  railroad  cut,  or  had  passed  towards  our  right  to 
crush  that.  The  fight  was  again  fierce  and  hot;  the  boys  on  the  right  were 
falling  like  autumn  leaves ;  the  air  was  full  of  lead.    Men  fell  all  along  the  hne. 

I  saw  an  officer  ride  down  from  Oak  Hill  in  our  rear,  and  wave  his  cap  in 
retreat.  To  venture  into  this  maelstrom  between  the  railroad  cut  and  that  fence 
on  the  right  was  death.  Fierce  flamed  the  fire  around  the  altar  of  the  Union 
from  the  guns  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New  York.  The  smoke 
of  carnage  rose  as  an  incense,  and  wrapped  the  folds  of  the  flag  defended  within 
its  shortened  Hnps.  Not  a  man  flinched;  none  left  the  field  except  the  wounded; 
the  untouched  living  and  the  dead  remained.  You  may  point  to  Thermopylae 
and  its  Spartans;  but  a  Thermopylae  was  here,  and  a  Spartan  heroism  stood 
within  this  death  angle  on  this  ground.  Never  was  a  grander  fight  made 
against  triple  odds;  never  greater  readiness  to  do  and  die  on  duty's  line;  never 
greater  results  hung  trembling  in  the  balance  than  swayed  in  the  battle  front 
of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New  York.  Shall  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg be  fought?  Shall  the  high  tide  of  the  Rebellion  ebb  from  these  fields 
into  peaceful  waters  at  Appomattox?  Shall  foreign  nations  recognize  the  Con- 
federacy? Shall  the  great  struggle  be  fought  now  and  here  to  a  finish?  The 
answer  came  back  from  the  smoking  guns  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty- 
seventh  :    "  Our  whole  duty  shall  be  done.    We  are  here  to  stay." 

Closer  pressed  the  enemy.  A  regiment  —  the  Fifty-fifth  North  Carolina  — 
was  pressing  far  to  our  right  and  rear,  and  came  over  to  the  south  side  of  the 
rail  fence.  The  colors  drooped  to  the  front.  An  officer  in  front  of  the  centre 
corrected  the  alignment  as  if  passing  in  review.  It  was  the  finest  exhibition  of 
discipline  and  drill  I  ever  saw,  before  or  since,  on  the  battlefield.  The  battery 
was  gone  from  our  left;  Wads  worth  seeing  our  peril  ordered  his  adjutant  gen- 
eral, Capt.  T.  E.  Ellsworth,  to  ride  in  and  withdraw  us.  With  his  coal-black 
hair  pressing  his  horse's  mane,  he  came  through  the  leaden  hail  like  a  whirl- 
wind across  the  old  railroad  cut  and  up  the  hill  to  Major  Harney,  who  gave 
the  command,  "  In  retreat,  march !  "  As  I  started  with  my  men  to  the  rear  I 
found  Edwin  Aylesworth  mortally  wounded,  who  begged  me  not  to  leave  him. 
I  stopped,  and  with  Sergt.  Peter  Shuttz,  assisted  him  to  his  feet,  and  tried 
to  carry  'him ;  but  I  could  not,  and  had  to  lay  him  down.  His  piteous  appeal, 
"  Don't  leave  me,  boys,"  has  rung  in  my  ears  and  lived  in  my  memory  these 
five  and  twenty  years. 

Sergeant  Shuttz  was  killed  soon  after  near  Oak  Ridge.  The  time  spent  in 
assisting  Aylesworth  delayed  me,  so  I  was  among  the  last  to  leave  the  field. 

Finding  the  enemy  so  close  upon  us  and  the  way  open  —  the  route  we  came 
in  by  —  I  followed  several  of  my  men  into  the  railroad  cut.  A  squad  of  Con- 
federates were  at  the  west  end  of  the  cut,  behind  some  rails,  and  as  we  struck 
the  bottom  of  that  railroad  cut,  they  saluted  us  with  all  their  gnins,  and  each 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  993 

one  loaded  with  a  bullet.  I  did  not  stay  to  dispute  possession,  for  they  evi- 
dently intended  "  to  welcome  us  Yanks  with  bloody  hands  to  hospitable  graves," 
and  I  climbed  up  the  rocky  face  of  the  cut,  on  the  south  side,  and  made  my 
way  with  many  of  our  men  across  the  meadow  between  the  railroad  cut  and 
the  Chambersburg  Pike,  crossed  the  pike  into  a  small  peach  orchard,  and  I 
overtook  the  colors  in  the  hands  of  Sergt  William  A.  Wyburn.  Just  as  I 
joined  him  he  received  a  shot,  and  fell  on  the  colors  as  if  dead.  I  tried  to 
remove  the  colors,  but  he  held  to  them  with  true  Irish  grit.  I  commanded 
him  to  let  go,  and  to  my  surprise  he  answered,  "  Hold  on,  I  will  be  up  in  a 
minute,"  rolled  over  and  staggered  to  his  feet  and  carried  them  all  through  the 
fight,  and  was  commissioned  for  his  courage. 

We  joined  Major  Harney  and  right  wing  of  the  regiment  on  the  east  slope 
of  Seminary  Ridge,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Chambersburg  Pike,  refilled  our 
canteens,  and  with  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  and  Seventy-sixth  New  York 
marched  immediately  over  Oak  Hill  again  into  the  com  fields,  to  the  ground 
they  occupied  at  the  opening  of  the  fight.  From  thence  back,  to  Oak  Ridge, 
and  assisted  Paul's  Brigade  in  the  successful  attack  on  Iverson's  Confederate 
Brigade,  and  lay  for  some  time  among  the  oaks  on  the  ridge,  under  a  severe 
shelling  from  Confederate  batteries,  and  then  moved  to  the  left  of  the  railroad 
cut  on  Oak  Ridge  and  filled  up  with  ammunition,  when  the  order  came,  "  In 
retreat;  down  the  railroad  track  and  through  the  town!"  Called  roll  in  the 
Cemetery  amonj^  the  tombs  of  generations  past,  only  to  renew  the  combat  on 
Gulp's  Hill;  and  then  two  days  more  of  battle  and  death,  continuously  under 
fire  and  on  active  duty  from  July  ist  until  the  sun  went  down  in  battle  smoke 
on  the  3d.  How  well  they  fought!  How  well  they  acted  their  part!  Call  the 
roll  of  the  380  who  answered  at  Marsh  Greek,  July  ist  At  Gulp's  Hill  79  re- 
sponded.   A  loss  of  301  out  of  380. 

Gallant  Sickles  in  his  address  a  year  ago  denominates  the  first  day's  battle 
"  a  preliminary  skirmish."  But  for  the  heroism  and  staying  qualities  of  Rey- 
nolds and  his  men  the  first  day.  General  Sickles  would  never  had  the  oppor- 
tunity to  make  the  handsome  boast  that  the  Third  Corps  fought  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg. 

There  were  fifty  battles  of  Gettysburg  fought  on  these  hills  and  plains, — 
each  sanguinary  and  terrific  in  character. 

In  conclusion,  I  will  ask  your  attention  to  the  errors  in  the  histories  which 
affect  the  credit  and  honor  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New  York. 
It  was  unfortunate  for  the  record  of  the  First  Corps  that  we  lost  our  commander, 
Reynolds.  Not  by  this  would  I  be  understood  as  abating  one  jot  or  tittle  of 
honor  due  him  who  succeeded  the  gallant  Reynolds ;  for  he  who  commanded  us 
we  all  love  and  remember  with  a  soldier's  gratitude,  Gen.  Abner  Doubleday. 

It  was  more  than  unfortunate  that  General  Howard  failed  to  comprehend 
the  situation,  and  reported  to  General  Meade  that  "  the  First  Army  Corps  had 
fled  from  the  field."  , 

Let  us  examine  the  accepted  accounts  of  the  part  taten  by  the  One  hundred 
and  forty-seventh  New  York  and  see  how  they  conform  with  the  actual  facts. 

General  Doubleday,  in  his  history,  when  speaking  of  the  fight  on  this  ground, 

63 


994  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

page  129,  says:  "Two  regiments  (Seventy-sixth  New  York,  Fifty-sixth  Penn-, 
sylvania)  on  the  right  accordingly  withdrew,  but  the  One  hundred  and  forty-, 
seventh  New  York,  which  was  next  to  the  (rail)  road  did  not  receive  the  orders, 
as  its  colonel  was  shot  down  before  he  could  deliver  it.  Tliey  were  at  once 
surrounded  and  very  much  cut  up  before  they  could  be  rescued  from  their 
perilous  position." 

We  will  acknowledge  we  did  not  receive  the  first  order  and  were  truly  "  very 
much  cut  up;"  but  if  we  were  ever  "surrounded"  we  never  knew  it.  If  we 
were  ever  "  rescued  "  by  any  troops  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  on  that  par- 
ticular occasion,  we  were  not  aware  of  it.  Not  only  were  we  ignorant  of  such 
a  state  of  affairs,  but  we  most  emphatically  and  positively  assert  it  is  a  mistake 
of  history,  for  which  there  was  never  any  foundation. 

When  Major  Harney  received  Captain  Ellsworth's  order  to  retire,  we  had 
occupied  that  ground  nearly  half  an  hour.  The  rear  was  open  to  Oak  Hill,  and 
the  left  and  rear  (the  route  over  which  we  came  from  the  Seminary)  was  open 
and  unobstructed.  The  ground  that  Hall's  Battery  occupied  was  unoccupied 
by  the  enemy.  The  only  point  where  there  was  any  opposition  to  our  retreat 
was  at  the  west  end  of  that  railroad  cut,  which  was  not  of  such  a  nature  as  to 
prevent  us  crossing  it  with  our  colors,  and  the  flank  fire  of  the  Second  Missis- 
sippi and  Fifty-fifth  North  Carolina  on  our  north  before  whom  we  had  to  pass. 
We  challenge  the  statement  that  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New 
York  was  for  a  moment  "  cut  off,"  but  fought  until  ordered  to  retreat  by  the 
authority  from  the  division  commander,  and  not  "  rescued  "  by  the  action  of 
any  other  regiment.  There  was  no  other  regiment  in  reach  of  us  to  assist 
while  we  were  fighting  on  the  right  of  this  railroad  cut;  when  we  left  the 
ground  it  was  by  order,  and  we  carried  out  colors  with  us. 

Also  page  29 :  "  As  Wadsworth  withdrew  them  (the  Seventy-sixth  New 
York  and  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania)  without  notifying  Hall's  Battery  in  the 
road,  the  two  regiments  posted  by  Reynolds  on  the  left  (Fourteenth  Brooklyn 
and  Ninety-fifth  New  York)  both  became  exposed  to  a  disastrous  flank 
attack  o«n  the  right.  Hall  finding  a  cloud  of  skirmishers  launched  against 
his  battery,  which  was  without  support,  was  compelled  to  retreat  with  the 
loss  of  one  gun  *  *  *  The  Fourteenth  Brooklyn  and  Ninety-fifth  New 
York  finding  their  support  gone  on  the  right  and  Archer's  Rebel  Brigade  ad- 
vancing on  the  left,  fell  back  leisurely."  The  error  in  this  is  that  the  with- 
drawal of  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York  and  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  exposed 
the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New  York  to  "  the  disastrous  flank  attack 
on  the  right."  We  were  still  holding  the  ground  when  Hall  withdrew  his 
battery.  The  support  Hall's  Battery  received  from  the  One  hundred  and  forty- 
seventh  New  York  was  as  vigorous  as  one  regiment  could  render  against 
the  terrible  odds  of  three  to  one.  The  assistance  rendered  the  battery  by 
Companies  G  and  C  was  largely  instrumental  in  reHeving  it  from  a  disastrous 
attack  by  the  skirmish  line  against  which  it  was  waging  an  unequal  warfare;, 
and  gave  Captain  Hall  an  opportunity  to  retire  his  battery  from  its  exposed 
position.  He  left  one  gun,  not  on  the  right  of  his  battery,  but  on  the  left 
next  the  Chambersburg  Pike.    So  that  instead  of  Hall's  Battery  being  "  with- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  995 

out  support  and  compelled  to  retreat,"  it  was  saved  from  capture  and  destruc- 
tion (by  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New  York)  and  escaped,  which 
it  could  not  have  done  had  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New  York  left 
the  field  before  the  battery.  Companies  G  and  C  of  the  One  hundred  and 
forty-seventh  are  entitled  to  much  of  that  credit. 

Page  133,  speaking  of  the  movement  of  the  Ninety-fifth  New  York,  Four- 
teenth Brooklyn  and  Sixth  Wisconsin  against  the  Second  and  Forty-second 
Mississippi  at  the  railroad  cut:  "  Dawes  brought  a  gun  to  enfilade  their 
position,"  etc.     *    *    * 

"  This  success  relieved  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New  York  which, 
as  I  stated,  was  surrounded." 

Comte  de  Paris  says,  page  26,  vol.  6:  "  The  Sixth  Wisconsin,  left  in  reserve 
by  Meredith  at  the  Seminary,  made  a  lively  advance,  supporting  the  right, 
rallied  that  part  of  Cutler's  Brigade  which  remained  in  the  railroad  cut,  and, 
with  the  aid  of  one  cannon,  opened  a  deadly  fire  upon  Davis'  Brigade." 

General  Hunt  says  in  his  Century  article :  "  The  orders  not  reaching  the  One 
hundred  and  forty-seventh  New  York,  its  gallant  Major  Harney  held  that  regi- 
ment to  its  position,  until  having  lost  half  of  its  number  the  order  to  retire  was 
repeated.  Hall's  Battery  was  now  imperiled,  and  withdrawn  by  sections  fight- 
ing at  close  range,  sufifering  severely." 

Quinner's  Military  History  of  Wisconsin,  page  461,  says:  "  During  the  day 
the  Sixth  Regiment  saved  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New  York  from 
capture  by  charging  down  upon  the  enemy." 

Hall's  abandoned  cannon  and  the  gallant  Sixth  Wisconsin  have  cut  a  large 
figure  in  the  mythical  "  saving  "  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  from 
capture  or  annihilation  in  past  histories  of  the  last  twenty-five  years.  It  has 
been  a  salient  of  glorious  and  magnanimous  conduct  which,  if  it  had  happened, 
should  have  decorated  every  member  of  that  brave  command  with  an  Order 
of  Merit  The  Sixth  Wisconsin  was  supporting  Meredith's  Brigade  in  its  rear 
near  the  Fairfield  Road,  and  not  at  the  Seminary;  and  was  ordered  to  the  right 
to  assist  the  right  of  the  line  held  by  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh 
New  York.  That  the  order  was  obeyed  with  Dawes'  characteristic  energy  no 
one  will  doubt.  While  he  was  en  route  up  the  valley,  Hall's  Battery  withdrew. 
Colonel  Fowler  retired  his  line  to  the  rear  of  the  McPherson  House, 
changed  front  along  the  Chambersburg  Pike,  and  is  there  joined  by  the  Sixth 
Wisconsin.  While  this  is  taking  place  on  the  left,  the  One  hundred  and  forty- 
seventh  is  still  fighting  the  three  regiments  on  the  right,  and  held  them  in 
check  until  the  change  was  about  completed  and  Fowler  established  his  new 
line.  Fowler's  command  now  consisted  of  the  Sixth  Wisconsin,  Four- 
teenth Brooklyn,  and  Ninety-fifth  New  York.  When  the  One  hundred  and 
forty-seventh  received  orders  to  retreat,  it  retired  in  part  on  the  east  of  the 
railroad  and  a  part  with  the  colors  crossed  it  and  the  Chambersburg  Pike,  and 
thence  over  the  Seminary  Ridge  without  meeting  any  mythical  rescuers  with 
their  enfilading  gun  or  any  other  troops.  If  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh 
was  "  saved  "  or  "  rescued  "  by  the  gallant  Wisconsin  boys  or  by  the  joint  move- 
ments of  other  forces,  the  next  historian  must  produce  some  evidence  and  not 
rely  on  mere  assertions. 


99^  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Brig.  Gen.  E.  B.  Fowler,  the  gallant  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth 
Brooklyn,  writes  me  at  a  recent  date  and  says:  "Hall's  Battery  had  been 
withdrawn  except  one  gun  near  the  Chambersburg  Pike.  One  man  fired  that 
gun  and  ran.  *  *  *  i^  without  orders,  marched  to  the  rear  of  the  house 
and  changed  front  to  face  the  railroad  cut.  While  performing  this  movement 
the  Sixth  Wisconsin  joined  on  the  right  of  our  line.  The  enemy,  seeing  our 
movement,  also  changed  his  front  along  the  railroad  cut,  using  it  for  shelter." 

Now  for  that  celebrated  and  sanguinary  gun  which  has  played  such  a  glorious 
part  in  the  "  rescue,"  saving  and  relieving  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh 
New  York  from  being  captured. 

General  Fowler  says :  "  In  regard  to  that  gun  you  mentioned.  My  recol- 
lection is,  that  after  we  had  passed  it  in  our  advance  (from  the  Chambersburg 
Pike  towards  the  railroad  cut)  one  of  Hall's  officers  brought  out  a  limber  with 
its  men  and  horses  and  drew  the  gun  off.  Then  I  sent  word  to  him  to  take  it 
to  the  right  and  fire  through  the  cut,  but  before  he  reached  there  the  affair 
was  over  and  the  enemy  surrendered.  There  was  no  artillery  firing  into  or 
about  the  cut,  nor  did  we  have  any  assistance  from  artillery  to  aid  in  the 
repulse  and  capture  of  the  enemy  at  the  cut."  When  Fowler  speaks  of  the 
cut  he  means  the  one  at  the  second  ridge,  to  which  Davis'  Brigade  had  pur- 
sued us  before  observing  his  advance. 

Comrades,  I  have  brushed  aside  some  of  the  Cobwebs  that  have  obscured 
your  history  since  the  battle  day  of  July  i,  1863.  As  it  stands  corrected  it  is 
a  grand  history;  it  is  full  of  glorious  and  heroic  deeds;  and  as  I  analyze  it  in. 
all  the  light  now  before  me,  I  claim  with  all  candor  that  the  steadfast  courage 
displayed  by  the  officers  and  men  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New 
York  made  the  capture  of  several  hundred  men  of  the  Second  and  Forty- 
second  Mississippi  and  Fifty-fifth  North  Carolina  by  General  Fowler's  forces 
possible,  and,  therefore,  entitled  to  the  same  credit. 

We  point  with  pride  to  the  record,  and  claim  the  still  higher  credit  that  by 
holding  the  right  of  the  line  like  a  forlorn  hope,  we  saved  the  entire  line  from 
destruction  and  made  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  possible. 

Had  our  regiment  flinched  for  one  moment,  or  allowed  the  three  Confederate 
regiments  to  have  marched  over  the  field  unopposed.  Hall's  battery  and  the 
left  of  the  line  would  have  been  taken  in  flank  and  rear,  with  results  no  man 
can  appreciate.    God  only  knows  the  possible  result. 

To  the  memory  of  our  honored  dead  who  laid  life's  tribute  on  the  sacred 
altar  of  home  and  country  we  leave  this  monument  of  respect  and  honor  from 
the  hands  of  the  people  of  the  Empire  State.  Of  those  who  were  with  us,  and 
those  who  led  us  on  the  field,  where  are  they.  Generals  Doubleday,  Fowler, 
and  Hofmann  still  live  to  receive  our  love  and  gratitude.  Reynolds,  Wads- 
worth,  Cutler,  Hall,  Rice,  Miller,  Gary,  Schenck,  Van  Dusen,  McAssy,  Mace, 
Taylor,  and  Sisson  have  long  since  answered  the  inevitable  roll  call.  Turn  your 
faces  comrades  towards  the  setting  sun!  Far  towards  the  backbone  of  the  Con- 
tinental Divide,  by  the  side  of  the  rock-ribbed  mountain,  and  within  the  shadows 
of  the  snow-capped  summits  of  Pike's  Peak,  sleeps  a  hero  for  which  that  famed 
old  mountain  is  none  too  grand  a  monument, —  a  true  hero,  a  genial  comrade,  a 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  997 

warm  friend,  one  beloved  by  all,  Lieut  Col.  George  Harney.    He  meets  with 
us  no  more, 

"  Yet  we  see  in  our  dreams  in  that  shadowy  region, 
Where  the  dead  form  their  ranks  at  the  wan  drummer's  sign, 
He  rides  on  as  of  old  down  the  length  of  his  legion, 
And  the  word  is  still,  '  Forward  along  the  whole  line.' " 

We  turn  towards  the  South  Land  and  view  the  finger  iparks  of  war  in  the 
graves  of  comrades  dead,  and  raise  the  old  tin  cup  of  black  coffee,  and  drink 
to  the  memory  of  those  who  never  came  home. 

"  I  dreamed  of  our  dead  and  forgotten, 
Marked  Unknown  on  the  tablets  of  fame, 
And  a  long  line  of  heroes  filed  past  me, — 
Who  for  us  gave  a  life  and  a  name  — 
With  the  grace  of  youth,  but  each  face  was  pale. 
And  furrowed  by  lines  of  pain; 
Though  lost  to  fame  they  proudly  marched 
As  though  they  had  not  fought  in  vain. 

"  They  halted  for  roll-call,  and  for  each  name 

A  ready   'Here'  was  said; 

I  listened  with  awe,  for  the  sergeants  there 

Were  calling  the  roll  of  our  dead. 
'  All  present  or  accounted  for: ' 
'  A  detail  is  still  on  earth,' 
'  To  guard  our  flags,  to  mark  our  graves,' 
'  To  let  men  know  our  worth.' 

I  awakened,  startled,  from  my  sleep; 
'  Our  regiment,  boys,  is  with  the  dead ; ' 
'  'Tis  the  rear-guard  only  that's  here.'  " 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 

By  Adjutant  Henry  H.  Lyman. 

The  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  An- 
drew S.  Warner,  colonel,  was  raised  wholly  in  Oswego  county  in  August  and 
September,  1862,  and  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  September  22d 
and  23d.  It  left  Oswego,  September  27th,  with  837  enlisted  men  for  the  front, 
and  received  its  arms  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  on  the  28th,  while  en  route  to  Wash- 
ington, where  it  arrived  September  29th.  Next  day  it  marched  over  the  Long 
Bridge,  and  encamped  near  Baile)r's  Cross  Roads,  Va.  It  soon  moved  to  the 
northern  defences  of  Washington,  at  Tennalytown,  where  the  men  were  en- 
gaged in  building  defensive  works  and  roads  until  November  28th. 


998  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  memory  of  that  period,  to  its  old  members,  is  a  most  gloomy  one.  The 
camp  was  pleasant  in  appearance,  but  proved  most  destructive  to  health.  The 
whole  country  round  about  had  been  occupied  for  eighteen  months  by  soldiers, 
raw  recruits  who  had  no  knowledge  of  the  sanitary  regulations  necessary  to 
keep  their  camps  free  from  the  soldier's  most  deadly  enemy,  malarial  fever  and 
dysentery.  Here  scores  of  its  men  were  prostrated  with  disease,  and  the  dead 
march  was  as  familiar  as  the  reveille.  Its  colonel  was  inexperienced  in  military 
affairs,  but  was  a  most  thorough-going  and  energetic  worker  himself.  Not 
appreciating  the  importance  of  drill  and  discipline,  he  neglected  that  almost 
wholly,  and  the  regiment  was  kept  for  the  first  few  weeks  of  its  service  entirely 
upon  fatigue  duty,  until  it  came  to  feel  that  it  was  a  gang  of  laborers  rather 
than  soldiers.    Dissatisfaction  and  homesickness  was  a  natural  result. 

On  Sunday,  November  28th,  the  regiment  received  orders  to  be  ready  to 
march  in  two  hours.  This,  the  first  real  march,  viewed  from  the  light  of  later 
field  experience,  was  always  very  amusing.  In  anticipation  of  wintering  in  the 
defences  of  Washington  and  being  a  "  good  provider,"  the  colonel  had  drawn 
tents,  camp  and  garrison  equipage,  and  ordnance  stores  enough  for  a  large 
brigade.  On  receipt  of  marching  orders,  the  quartermaster  went  to  Quarter- 
master General  Rucker  and  borrowed  all  the  transportation  he  could,  and  they 
set  out  from  Tenallytown  with  thirty-three  six-mule  teams  heavily  loaded  with 
baggage  and  property,  both  personal  and  public,  and  still  were  obliged  to  leave 
ten  large  loads  of  property  in  camp.  The  writer  was  left  in  charge,  with  orders 
to  guard  and  turn  in  the  abandoned  property.  Applying  to  General  Rucker 
for  teams  to  haul  the  property  to  Washington,  he  was  answered  in  language 
more  forcible  than  polite:  "D — n  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New 
York!  they  have  already  got  all  the  reserve  transportation  of  this  department 
and  gone  off  with  it,  God  only  knows  where."  Later  on  it  was  thought  to  be 
good  luck  if  a  regiment,  and  sometimes  a  brigade,  secured  even  one  wagon  for 
baggage  when  on  the  march. 

The  regiment  for  a  time  did  guard  duty  on  the  Aquia  Creek  Railroad,  and 
at  Falmouth  Station  after  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  Their  extravagant, 
luxurious  tastes  and  mode  of  living  acquired  at  Tenallytown,  together  with 
their  habits  of  acquisition  and  accumulation,  impaired  their  usefulness  as  guards, 
and  they  were  relieved  from  provost  duty  January  i,  1863,  and  assigned  to 
Paul's  Brigade,  Wadsworth's  Division,  First  Corps,  then  wintering  at  Belle 
Plain  Landing. 

They  had  not  got  fairly  settled  in  their  new  quarters  when,  on  January  20th, 
the  Burnside  mud  march  was  begun.  Whatever  the  object  may  have  been 
which  General  Burnside  hoped  to  accomplish  by  this  dead-of-winter  movement, 
the  result  was  disaster  and  demoralization  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  a 
waste  of  men  and  material  never  fully  realized  by  the  country.  The  One  hun- 
dred and  forty-seventh  received  its  full  share  of  damage  and  demoralization 
from  this  unfortunate  movement.  Scores  of  its  men  were  exhausted  and  broken 
down  by  the  four  days'  exposure  to  chilling  rains  and  the  strain  of  poaching 
through  the  endless  slough  of  deep,  sticky  mud,  and  on  returning  to  camp  were 
prostrated  with  typhoid  fever,  pneumonia,  dysentery  and  other  complaints,  from 
which  many  never  recovered.    As  a  direct  result  of   this  terrible   four   days' 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  999 

march,  forty-four  men  died  in  camp  at  Belle  Plain  within  the  next  two  months. 
Demoralization  was  evinced  by  the  resignation  of  the  colonel,  four  captains, 
and  three  lieutenants,  between  January  2Sth  and  February  4th.  Had  the  privi- 
lege extended  to  enlisted  men,  the  list  would  have  been  larger.  This  circum- 
stance was  an  episode  in  the  history  of  the  regiment  which  caused  considerable 
comment  and  criticism.  These  officers  were,  however,  good  citizens,  brave 
men  and  as  patriotic  as  those  who  remained;  in  fact,  had  been  selected  and 
commissioned  at  the  request  of  local  war  committees  on  account  of  their  high 
moral  and  social  standing  at  home,  but  were  mostly  too  old  and  wholly  un- 
fitted for  military  life  and  the  trying  ordeals  of  actual  war.  Having  found  this 
out  under  the  depressing  strain  of  the  mud  march  and  its  horrible  results,  they 
left  the  service,  and  their  places  were  at  once  filled  by  younger  and  better  men 
from  the  ranks. 

Paul's  Brigade  was  a  sort  of  provipional  brigade,  and  while  assigned  to  it, 
it  was  the  fate  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  Regiment  to  be,  as  be- 
fore, constantly  upon  fatigue  duty  on  the  docks ;  and  it  seemed  that  we  were  to 
continue  to  be  hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water.  On  April  3d  the  regi- 
ment was  transferred  to  the  Second  Brigade  of  Wadsworth's  Division,  under 
General  Cutler,  a  veteran  brigade  consisting  of  the  Seventy-sixth  and  Ninety- 
fifth  New  York,  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  and  Seventh  Indiana,  all  first-class, 
well-seasoned  veteran  regiments,  with  good  records  and  able  commanders. 
Drill  and  discipline  now  began  in  earnest.  The  command  of  the  regiment  de- 
volved upon  Col.  J.  G.  Butler,  who  was  from  the  old  Third  New  York;  He 
was  ably  assisted  by  Lieut.  Col.  F.  C.  Miller,  Maj.  George  Harney  and  Capt. 
N.  A.  Wright,  all  experienced  officers  who  had  seen  service.  Thirty  days 
transformed  the  regiment  from  its  indifference  and  demoralization  into  one  of 
the  best  organizations  in  the  army,  and  within  six  months  its  reputation,  mili- 
tary appearance  and  esprit  de  corps  was  excelled  by  few  regiments  in  the  army. 
From  that  on  its  career  was  an  eventful  and  honorable  one. 

April  28th,  with  the  balance  of  the  corps,  the  regiment  broke  camp  for  the 
Fredericksburg-Chancellorsville  campaign.  The  First  and  Sixth  Corps  were 
to  cross  and  make  a  feint,  or  a  real  attack,  if  warranted  by  circumstances,  on 
the  enemy's  right  on  Fredericksburg  Heights.  Reynolds'  orders  were  that  the 
pontoons  must  be  unloaded  back  from  the  river,  and  carried  to  and  put  in  the 
water  quietly  in  the  night  so  as  to  be  ready  to  row  a  brigade  across  before  day- 
light. Reaching  the  Rappahannock  at  Fitzhugh's  Crossing  at  daybreak,  it  was 
found  that  through  a  misunderstanding  of  or  noncompliance  with  orders,  the 
pontoons,  except  about  twenty,  were  not  yet  down  to  the  river,  and  the  enemy 
in  the  rifle  pits  on  the  south  bank  were  making  it  hot  for  the  engineers.  Our 
batteries  Were  unable  to  dislodge  the  infantry  of  the  enemy  intrenched  on  the 
opposite  bank.  Wadsworth's  Division  was  at  or  near  the  river's  edge  in  the 
sunken  road,  ready  to  cross,  but  no  bridges  laid  and  but  few  boats  at  the  river 
bank  to  row  them  over.  The  situation  was  decidedly  embarrassing,  but  General 
Wadsworth  was  not  to  be  balked ;  and  here  occurred  an  incident  which  showed 
his  character  and  courage  and  endeared  him  to  every  man  in  the  corps. 

Riding  down  the  river's  edge  under  a  hot  fire,  he  comprehended  the  im- 
possibility of  either  laying  the  bridge  or  waiting  to  launch  sufficient  boats  to 


looo  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

carry  over  a  brigade  without  great  loss  of  life  and  also  loss  of  time,  which 
would  enable  the  enemy  to  reinforce  the  works  opposite.  Ordering  more 
pontoons  hurried  into  the  water,  he  got  into  one  himself,  leading  his  horse 
in  by  its  side  and  pushed  ofiE  for  the  south  side,  followed  by  a  part  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Michigan  and  Sixth  Wisconsin,  while  a  heavy  fire  was  opened 
to  hold  down  the  Rebels  in  the  pits  opposite.  It  was  a  spectacle  never  to  be 
forgotten, —  that  white-headed  old  hero  standing  like  a  statue  in  the  rocking 
pontoon  with  the  bridle  of  his  swimming  horse  in  his  left  hand,  apparently 
more  anxious  for  the  horse  than  himself,  occasionally  turning  his  face  towards 
the  smoking  breastworks  on  the  high  banks  opposite.  Ten  thousand  anxious 
men  are  eagerly  watching  and  silently  praying  for  the  safety  of  their  lion- 
hearted  commander  as  he  is  rowed  through  the  hissing  shower  of  lead  which 
bespatters  the  river  and  throws  water  in  his  face  and  over  his  clothing.  Men 
drop  at  the  long  clumsy  oars,  but  the  boats,  drifting  a  Uttle  down  the  stream, 
sweep  rapidly  across  and  he  safely  reaches  the  opposite  bank,  jumps  ashore 
and  mounting  his  dripping  horse  cheers  on  the  valiant  men  who  have  followed 
him.  Up  the  bank  they  go,  over  the  pits!  Up  go  the  white  handkerchiefs 
all  along  the  Rebel  breastworks,  while  cheers  for  Wadsworth  from  thousands 
of  men  of  the  First  Corps,  who  had  eagerly  watched  his  brave  act,  drowned 
the  roar  of  the  batteries  which  covered  the  banks.  Other  'troops  were  quickly 
rowed  over  to  reinforce  those  who  first  crossed. 

The  bridges  were  quickly  laid,  and  headed  by  the  One  hundred  and  forty- 
seventh  New  York,  the  balance  of  the  division  safely  crossed  to  the  south  bank. 
The  engagement  here,  called  "  Pollock's  Mill  Creek,"  was  simply  a  three  days' 
artillery  fight  of  a  very  desultory  character. 

May  2d,  the  First  Corps  was  hastily  moved  to  the  right  at  Chancellorsville. 
They  arrived  on  that  field  at  daybreak  on  the  3d,  and  in  time  to  strengthen 
Hooker's  shattered  lines  and  help  prevent  further  disaster. 

Returning  from  Chancellorsville,  it  camped  in  the  pine  woods  below  Fal- 
mouth until  June  12th,  when,  with  seven  days'  rations,  they  began  the  Gettys- 
burg march,  which  was  initiated  and  governed  by  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 
On  account  of  the  extreme  heat  and  irregular  speed,  which  included  several 
forced  marches  in  the  broiling  sun  and  drenching  rain,  many  men  were  pros- 
trated. After  crossing  into  Maryland  and  as  we  approached  Pennsylvania, 
the  improved  condition  of  the  country  and  moderating  weather  was  very  in- 
spiring to  the  men. 

On  this  march  occurred  another  little  incident  which  raised  Wadsworth  still 
higher,  not  only  in  the  estimation  of  his  own  men,  but  those  of  the  whole  army. 
On  the  28th  of  June  the  corps  reached  Frederick,  Md.  The  day's  march  over 
the  Catoctin  Mountains  had  been  very  tiresome,  and  ended  in  a  wet  evening. 
Wadsworth's  Division  was  halted  for  the  night  in  a  clover  meadow  of  ten  or 
fifteen  acres,  surrounded  by  a  pine  rail  fence.  Existing  general  orders  were 
strict  that  the  troops  should  not  forage,  or  burn  the  fences  of  the  citizens.  It 
looked  like  having  to  lie  down  all  night  in  the  wet  clover,  in  damp  clothing, 
and  without  cofifee.  General  Wadsworth  could  not  and  would  not  stand  that. 
Sending  for  the  old  farmer,  he  asked  how  much  was  the  value  of  the  rails  around 
that  field.    The  farmer  said  he  didn't  want  to  sell  them  at  any  price,  and  pleaded 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  iooi 

the  general  orders  for  protection.  General  Wadsworth's  reply  was :  "  I  am 
a  farmer  myself;  your  fence  won't  be  needed  to  protect  the  clover  which  is 
already  flat  and  ruined;  my  men  are  tired,  wet  and  hungry  and  must  have 
cofifee;  your  rails  will  be  burned  by  either  Union  or  Rebel  soldiers  in  the  next 
ten  days;  they're  worth  about  $250;  here  it  is;  take  it  or  take  your  chances." 
The  farmer  took  the  money  which  the  general  paid  from  his  own  pocket,  and 
orders  were  given  to  use  the  rails  for  fire.  In  less  than  three  minutes  every  rail 
had  left  the  fence,  and  in  ten  minutes  a  thousand  cheerful  fires  were  blazing  and 
giving  warmth  and  comfort  to  8,000  or  10,000  wet  and  weary  men,  whose  pro- 
longed cheers  for  General  Wadsworth  fairly  rent  the  heavens.  The  example 
was  irresistible  in  the  other  corps,  and  in  a  very  short  time  the  heavens  for 
miles  were  illuminated  by  fires  fed  with  the  prohibited  Union  rails.  From  that 
time  on,  the  order  was  a  dead  letter,  and  General  Wadsworth's  rule  to  "  first 
protect  your  men  "  prevailed  instead. 

July  1st,  the  regiment,  together  with  the  balance  of  Wadsworth's  Division, 
was  hurriedly  moved  from  Marsh  Creek,  by  way  of  the  Emmitsburg  Road, 
to  Gettysburg,  and  went  into  line  west  of  the  town  about  9:30  d..  m.,  re- 
lieving Buford's  Cavalry  which  was  contesting  the  advance  of  Hill's  Corps  on 
the  Chambersburg  Pike.  It  reached  the  liAe  of  battle  by  crossing  the  fields 
from  the  Codori  buildings  to  the  Seminary;  thence  westerly  down  the  slope 
to  the  garden  fence  just  east  of  the  McPherson  buildings,  where  it  was  halted 
for  a  very  short  time;  and  thence  moved  by  the  flank  across  the  Chambersburg 
Pike,  through  the  hollow  in  rear  of  the  position  taken  by  Hall's  Second  Maine 
Battery,  northerly,  crossing  the  old  unfinished  railroad  in  the  hollow  at  or  near 
grade,  faced  by  the  left  flank  and  moved  to  the  west  between  the  railroad  cut 
and  the  rail  fence  on  the  north  of  said  cut,  advancing  until  met  by  the  heavy 
fire  of  the  enemy  who  were  coming  up  the  opposite  side  of  the  ridge. 

The  position  of  the  regiment  when  it  first  became  engaged  was  about  six  or 
.  eight  rods  in  rear  of  the  line  of  Hall's  Battery  and  on  the  opposite  or  north  side 
of  the  railroad  cut,  which  at  that  point  was  deep.  On  its  right  and  somewhat 
to  its  rear  was  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  and  Seventy-sixth  New  York,  but 
not  connecting  with  it  on  the  right.  The  fighting  was  at  very  short  range  and 
very  destructive.  After  about  fifteen  minutes  engagement,  the  Seventy-sixth 
and  Fifty-sixth  were  withdrawn.  The  enemy,  viz.,  the  Forty-second  Mississippi, 
were  in  the  western  end  of  the  cut  and  covered  its  front,  while  the  Second  Mis- 
sissippi and  the  Fifty-fifth  North  Carolina  were  bearing  down  from  the  north 
on  its  right,  one  company  of  which  had  been  thrown  back  along  the  rail  fence 
to  meeit  them. 

General  Wadsworth,  coming  up  the  line  from  the  left  and  observing  our 
position,  ordered  Capt.  T.  E.  Ellsworth,  his  adjutant  general,  to  ride  up  to  us, 
and  if  no  conditions  existed  which,  in  his  judgment,  required  our  contmuance 
in  that  perilous  position,  to  withdraw  the  regiment  at  once,  as  he  supposed  had 
already  been  done  at  the  time  of  the  withdrawal  of  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania 
and  Seventy-sixth  New  York.  Captain  Ellsworth  reached  the  line  just  as 
Major  Harney  was  consulting  his  senior  captains  as  to  whether  it  was  best  to 
remain  and  take  the  almost  certain  chances  of  being  cut  off  and  captured,  or 
to  retreat  without  orders.    The  order  was  given:    "  In  retreat,  double-quick. 


I002  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

run."  In  getting  off  the  field,  no  order  or  line  was  observed.  Some  kept  to 
the  north  side  of  the  old  railroad  over  the  second  ridge,  now  known  as  Rey- 
nolds Avenue;  but  the  galling  fire  of  the  Second  Mississippi  and  Fifty-fifth 
North  Carolina,  who  were  advancing  from  the  north,  drove  most  of  them  across 
the  cut  towards  the  Chambersburg  Pike. 

About  the  time  that  the  enemy,  who  were  pursuing  us  in  a  disorganized  and 
yelling  mob  from  the  west  and  northwest,  had  reached  the  second  ridge  and 
were  halted  to  see  where  they  were  and  where  they  should  go,  they  discovered 
a  line  of  battle  at  the  Chambersburg  Pike  which  immediately  attacked  them 
and  advanced,  causing  several  hundred  of  the  Forty-second  Mississippi,  Second 
Mississippi,  and  Fifty-fifth  North  Carolina  to  jump  into  the  deep  cut  at  the 
second  ridge  for  cover  and  defence,  where  they  were  captured  by  the  Four- 
teenth Brooklyn  and  Ninety-fifth  New  York,  who  had  been  hastily  moved  from 
the  front  of  the  buildings  and  formed  by  Colonel  Fowler  to  meet  the  enemy 
which  he  saw  bearing  down  from  the  north.  Fowler's  force  was  also  joined  on 
his  right  by  the  Sixth  Wisconsin. 

After  this  first  engagement,  about  seventy-five  men  and  officers  were  rallied 
in  rear  of  Seminary  Ridge,  and  again  moved  with  the  brigade  to  the  west  to 
take  up  the  first  line,  but  finding  it  untenable  on  account  of  heavy  artillery  fire 
from  the  north  and  west  withdrew  and  advanced  northerly  along  Oak  Ridge 
to  a  rail  fence,  where  they  soon  became  engaged  with  the  troops  of  Ewell's 
Corps,  assisting  in  the  capture  of  Iverson's  Brigade.  During  the  last  of  the 
first  day's  fighting  they  were  supporting  a  battery  near  the  Seminary.  In  the 
retreat  through  the  town,  the  regiment  was  badly  broken  and  jumbled  up,  but 
was  again  rallied  and  assigned  position  in  the  reformed  line  on  East  Cemetery 
Hill,  which  it  held  until  the  morning  of  the  2d,  when  it  was  moved  to  Culp's 
Hill  just  east  of  Stevens'  Battery,  where  it  lay  in  the  second  line  until  5:30  or 
6  p.  m. 

When  Ewell's  evening  attack  was  made  on  Culp's  Hill,  the  One  hundred  and 
forty-seventh  New  York  and  Fourteenth  Brooklyn  were  hurried  to  the  right 
and  down  the  hill  to  reinforce  Greene's  Brigade,  Geary's  Division,  Twelfth 
Corps,  where  they  were  engaged  until  9  or  10  p.  m.  They  remained  in  Greene's 
Brigade  all  next  day,  in  position  on  the  immediate  left  of  the  big  rock  on  which 
is  now  situate  the  monument  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  New  York, 
and  assisted  in  successfully  repulsing  the  numerous  desperate  attacks  made  on 
that  Ime  by  Johnson's  heavy  columns.  Before  10  a.  m.,  of  the  3d,  every 
man  and  officer  present  had  fired  200  rounds  and  the  numerous  dead  in  their 
front  showed  with  what  effect. 

The  service  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  on  this  line  has  never 
been  officially  recognized  in  the  reports  of  officers  of  that  corps,  and  as  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  failed  to  make  any 
official  report,  that  important  event  in  its  career  has  never  been  mentioned  by 
historians  and  writers  of  the  battle,  except  in  General  Slocum's  speech  at  the 
reunion  of  Greene's  Brigade  on  Culp's  Hill,  on  July  2,  1893.  The  prompt  re- 
inforcement of  Greene's  weak  and  attenuated  lines  by  the  One  hundred  and 
forty-seventh  New  York  and  Fourteenth  Brooklyn,  and  their  vigorous  unflinch- 
ing attack  on  the  advancing  enemy,  whose  strength  and  movements  were  only 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1003 

-evealed  by  the  tongues  of  flame  which  leaped  from  the  muzzles  of  their  guns, 
undoubtedly  frustrated  Lee's  plan  of  breaking  through  from  Rock  Creek  to  the 
Baltimore  Pike.  This  night  fighting  in  the  dense  darkness  of  the  rocky  forest 
was  a  feature  of  the  battle  most  terrific  and  appalling.  In  advancing,  no  align- 
ment could  be  maintained;  men  stumbled  and  fell  over  the  rocks  and  over  ihe 
bodies  of  the  dead  and  wounded;  and  as  the  opposing  forces  closed  in  and 
became  intermixed,  friends  and  foes  could  only  be  distinguished  by  the  dancing 
flames  from  the  muskets. 

The  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  to  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  its 
most  notable  one,  not  only  on  account  of  its  remarkable  experience  at  the  rail- 
road cut,  but  it  was  the  field  of  its  greatest  loss.  It  carried  to  the  first  line  of 
battle  380  men,  of  which  it  lost  "j^,  killed  and  mortally  wounded,  and  144, 
wounded,  most  of  whom  fell  during  the  first  half  hour.  Of  the  60  or  70  who 
were  captured  in  falling  back  through  the  town,  most  of  them  returned  within 
five  or  six  days.  No  New  York  regiment  lost  a  greater  percentage  of  its  men 
in  this  battle.  The  large  and  unusual  proportion  of  killed  to  the  wounded  was 
caused  by  the  nearness  of  the  lines  of  battle,  the  distance  not  exceeding  six  to 
ten  rods  during  the  first  half  hour's  fighting,  as  well  as  the  fact  that  for  some 
time,  while  on  the  McPherson  Ridge,  it  was  subject  to  a  fire  from  three  ways. 

Although  in  the  nature  of  repetition,  I  desire  to  recall  still  more  definitely  a 
matter  over  which  there  has  been  much  discussion  and  dispute,  viz.: 

The  error  as  to  the  first  position  of  the  regiment  at  Gettysburg,  which  was  on 
the  McPherson  Ridge,  north  of  Hall's  Battery,  and  a  few  rods  to  its  rear  on 
the  north  side  of  the  railroad  cut.  The  mistaken  notion  as  to  its  being  located 
on  the  second  ridge  arose  through  the  errors  made  by  Colonel  Bachelder  in 
leaving  Hall's  Second  Maine  Battery,  which  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh 
was  supporting,  off  his  first  map ;  then,  later  on,  locating  it  on  the  second  ridge, 
now  Reynolds  Avenue,  where  Lieutenant  Ullman's  right  section  of  Hall's  Bat- 
tery fired  two  or  three  shots  in  retreat,  and  placing  the  One  hundred  and  forty- 
seventh  upon  its  right  on  that  ridge,  instead  of  at  first  giving  Hall  his  proper 
position  between  the  Chambersburg  Pike  and  the  railroad  cut  on  the  Mc- 
Pherson Ridge,  which  he  did  not  do  until  1869. 

The  ridges  in  question  run  together  and  are  merged  near  the  Mummasburg 
Road.  Cutler's  line,  north  of  Hall's  Battery,  was  in  echelon,  the  One  hundred 
and  forty-seventh  New  York  being  on  the  right,  and  six  or  eight  rods  in  rear 
of  the  battery,  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  next  and  250  or  300  yards  in  the 
rear  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh,  with  the  Seventy-sixth  New  York 
in  line  on  its  right  extending  to  the  said  road. 

In  coming  on  the  field  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  did  not  follow  the 
Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  and  Seventy-sixth  New  York  across  the  pike  in  the 
hollow  in  rear  of  the  second  ridge;  it  went  diagonally  across  the  fields,  after 
passing  the  Seminary,  and  was  halted  at  the  garden  or  yard  fence  just  east 
of  the  McPherson  barn,  the  Ninety-fifth  and  Fourteenth  Brooklyn  going  to 
the  front  and  left  of  the  buildings.  The  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  halted 
by  this  garden  fence  from  three  to  five  minutes;  then  moved  hurriedly  along 
the  depression  or  valley  in  rear  of  Hall's  Battery,  which  was  then  engaged, 
until  the  left  of  the  regiment  was  across  the  old  railroad  bed;  then  faced  to  the 
front  and  without  waiting  for  alignment  moved  up  the  slope  between  the  cut 


1004  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

on  its  left  and  the  rail  fence  on  its  right  until  it  met,  and  engaged  the  enemy 
who  were  coming  up  in  the  field  of  grain  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  ridge. 

Hall's  Battery  was  on  the  left  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  cut,  and  six  or  eight  rods  more  or  less  to  its  front. 

The  enemy  occupied  the  west  end  of  the  cut,  and  a  heavy  force  of  their 
skirmishers  were  working  up  out  of  the  cut  on  the  western  side  of  the  slope 
on  Hall's  right  flank,  which  was  quite  a  distance  from  the  One  hundred  and 
forty-seventh  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  cut. 

The  left  companies  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  at  first  were  able 
to  give  Hall  some  protection;  but  to  meet  the  heavy  pressure  from  the  Second 
Mississippi  and  Fifty-fifth  North  Carolina,  which  came  down  from  the  north- 
west after  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  and  Seventy-sixth  New  York  were 
withdrawn,  as  well  as  the  hot  fire  of  the  Forty-second  Mississippi  on  its  front 
and  left,  the  regiment  was  soon  compelled  to  give  its  entire  attention  to  taking 
care  of  itself. 

The  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  did  not  get  Wadsworth's  first  order  to 
withdraw  with  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  and  Seventy-sixth  New  York,  on 
account  of  the  wounding  of  its  colonel,  but  held  on  to  its  position  after  the 
withdrawal  of  those  regiments,  until  almost  surrounded.  Then,  upon  orders 
which  were  brought  by  Capt.  T.  E.  Ellsworth,  it  ran,' pursued  pell-mell  by  the 
enemy,  most  of  the  men  crossing  to  the  south  side  of  the  old  railroad  grading 
in  the  hollow  between  the  second  and  third  ridges,  a  very  few  only  keeping  on 
the  north  side  of  the  grading  and  along  in  the  railroad  cutting  through  the 
second  ridge,  back  towards  Seminary  Ridge. 

The  enemy,  consisting  of  the  Forty-second  Mississippi  on  the  west,  and  the 
Second  Mississippi  and  Fifty-fifth  North  Carolina,  who  had  come  down  from 
the  northwest  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania  and  Seventy- 
sixth  New  York,  closely  followed  them,  also  falling  into  great  disorder,  until 
they  reached  the  deep  cut  of  the  second  ridge,  where  is  now  located  the  Four- 
teenth Brooklyn  monument  at  the  iron  bridge,  when,  receiving  the  lire  of 
Colonel  Fowler's  force  at  the  pike,  they  took  to  the  cut  for  shelter  and  several 
hundred  of  them,  under  Major  Blair  of  the  Second  Mississippi,  were  captured. 

A  thorough  investigation  has  established  these  facts,  not  only  by  the  recol- 
lection of  men  and  officers  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  Regiment, 
but  by  the  evidence  of  numerous  officers  of  other  commands,  both  Union  and 
Confederate,  which  was  secured  and  submitted  to  Colonel  Bachelder,  by  the 
writer,  before  his  death.  This  evidence,  as  may  be  seen  by  his  letters  herewith 
published,  convinced  him  of  his  error. 

I  take  the  liberty  to  subjoin  statements  received  from  the  Hon.  Timothy  E. 
Ellsworth,  Wadsworth's  adjutant  general,  who  withdrew  the  regiment  from 
the  third  ridge;  Col.  J.  A.  Blair  of  the  Second  Mississippi,  the  ranking  officer 
in  command  of  the  Confederate  detachment  captured  in  the  second  cut,  which 
had  pursued  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  ofif  the  field  until  met  by 
Colonel  Fowler  at  that  cut;  Capt.  J.  A.  Hall,  who  commanded  the  battery,  the 
right  of  which  the  regiment  was  supporting;  and  Col.  J.  B.  Bachelder,  Govern- 
ment Historian  of  Gettysburg,  who  was  finally  convinced,  by  this  and  a  large 
mass  of  other  positive  proof  furnished,  of  his  error  regarding  the  first  position  of 
this  regiment. 


Hew  York  at  Gettysbukg.  1005 

"  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  3,  1888. 
"  H.  H.  Lyman,  Esq.: 

"  My  Dear  Sir  —  Your  favors  of  the  loth  and  24th  of  July  ought  to  have  had 
my  attention  sooner.     Now  as  to  your  question: 

" '  Q.  Did  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  go  into  position  on  same 
ridge  and  to  the  right  of  Hall's  Battery,  or  were  they  on  the  ridge  at  the  second 
cut  some  300  yards  in  the  rear  of  the  battery? ' 

" '  A.  The  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  and  the  two  other  regiments  of 
that  brigade  were  on  the  same  ridge  as  Hall's  Battery,  and  to  the  right  of  the 
cut  as  shown  on  your  rough  sketch ;  this  was  the  third  ridge,  the  One  hundred 
and  forty-seventh  being  near  to  the  unfinished  railroad  and  the  other  two  regi- 
ments to  its  right  along  the  crest  of  that  ridge.' 

"  '  Q.  Do  you  remember  whether  you  rode  clear  up  to  Major  Harney  to  get 
him  to  retreat;  if  so,  did  you  keep  on  the  north  side  of  the  old  railroad,  and 
did  you  find  us  on  the  low  ridge  at  the  second  cut,  or  on  the  ridge  at  third 
cut,  counting  Seminary  Ridge  as  the  first  cut?' 

" '  A.  I  rode  substantially  up  to  your  regiment  and  inquired  of  the  major 
what  you  were  doing  there ;  was  told  you  had  had  no  orders  to  fall  back.  I  then 
gave  them,  and  got  out  myself  as  rapidly  as  I  conveniently  could.  In  going 
up  I  crossed  to  th6  north  side  of  the  old  railroad  and  rode  directly  up  the  hill 
to  about  the  centre  of  your  line;  you  were  on  the  ridge  to  the  right  of  the  third 
cut  at  that  time,  and  the  only  regiment  then  there.  Afterwards  I  learned  from 
General  Cutler's  aide  that  he  had  given  the  order  to  your  commanding  officer, 
but  it  was  found  that  he  was  wounded  before  communicating  it.  About  the 
time  that  the  First  Brigade  —  in  the  woods  —  had  its  success  there,  and  not 
long  afterwards,  the  fight  there  having  lulled,  riding  back  towards  the  rear 
with  General  Wadsworth,  the  position  of  your  regiment  was  observed  by  him, 
apparently  the  only  command  remaining  on  that  third  ridge,  and  seemingly 
under  heavy  fire.  He  asked  me  what  that  regiment  was  doing  up  there;  said 
he  had  given  orders  some  time  ago  for  those  troops  to  be  withdrawn,  and 
directed  me  to  go  and  withdraw  them  unless  there  was  some  special  occasion, 
which  was  not  apparent  to  him,  for  their  remaining.  I  rode  along  the  second 
valley  to  pretty  nearly  opposite  your  centre  and  then  directly  up  the  hill.' 

"  I  shall  be  glad  some  day  to  go  over  the  ground  with  you  if  you  still  have 
trouble  regarding  your  location,  and  regret  not  having  been  there  in  July. 

"  Very  truly  yours, 

"  T.  E.  ELLSWORTH." 


"  Tupelo,  Miss.,  Sept.  6,  1888. 
"H.H.Lyman,  Esq.: 

"  My  Dear  Sir  —  Yours  of  August  22d,  to  Colonel  Stone,  with  your  sketch 
of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  has  been  referred  by  him  to  me.  My  recollections 
of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  save  of  a  general  character,  are  vague  and  in- 
distinct. From  the  time  of  my  entrance  on  it,  until  I  was  a  prisoner  hurried 
to  the  rear,  was  only  an  hour  or  two.  The  space  within  my  view  was  small. 
I  had  no  time  or  purpose  to  look  at  the  formation  of  the  ground  or  the  relation 


/ 


ioo6  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

of  things,  or  the  relation  of  anything  to  the  compass.  I  have  not  seen  the 
battlefield  since  — now  over  twenty-five  years  ago.  You  have  the  places  of 
the  two  brigades  (Davis'  and  Archer's)  about  right,  and  also  the  Forty-second 
Mississippi,  Second  Mississippi  and  Fifty-fifth  North  Carolina.  Archer  on 
the  right,  Davis  on  the  left;  the  Forty-second  on  the  right.  Second  Mississippi 
in  the  centre,  and  the  Fifty-fifth  North  Carolina  on  the  left  of  Davis'  Brigade. 
Colonel  Stone  was  wounded,  I  think,  at  the  fence;  he  knows  best  about  this. 
Our  hard  fighting  was  done  soon  after  we  crossed  the  fence.  I  could,  I  recol- 
lect, distinctly  trace  the  line  of  the  Union  forces  by  the  dead  and  wounded 
lying  on  the  ground.  When  the  line  confronting  retired,  we  pursued  for  a  while 
and  halted  a  moment.  I  was  the  only  field  officer  left.  After  a  few  words  with 
some  of  the  men,  we  determined  to  move  forward  and  capture  Gettysburg. 
In  the  forward  march,  by  the  time  we  reached  a  deep  cut  in  the  railroad — for  the 
want  of  officers  and  other  causes  —  all  the  men  were  jumbled  together  without 
regard  to  regiment  or  company.  While  in  this  condition  in  the  cut  and  while 
I  was  endeavoring  to  reorganize  for  a  forward  movement,  we  were  flanked 
and  captured.  Among  the  men  captured  I  am  satisfied  there  were  members 
of  all  three  of  the  regiments.  The  battery  and  the  regiments  flanking  us  were 
not  in  my  view,  as  I  now  remember,  while  we  were  fighting  or  pursuing.  The 
battery  must  have  been  removed  before  we  were  captured.  •  The  men  fighting 
us  must  have  been  fronting  the  fence.  My  opinion  is  that  when  we  got  into 
the  railroad  cut,  the  Second  and  Forty-second  and  probably  the  Fifty-fifth 
North  Carolina  were  one  mass  of  men.  It  was  easy,  however,  for  the  Union 
officers  to  believe  they  were  all  of  the  Second  Mississippi,  because  I  was  the 
only  field  officer  present,  and  in  surrendering  I,  only,  gave  my  rank  and  com- 
mand. If  I  can  be  of  service  to  you  in  this  or  in  any  way,  command  me, 
"  With  my  kindest  regards  and  best  wishes,  I  am, 

"Yours  truly, 

"  J.  A.  BLAIR." 


"  Columbus,  O.,  July  19,  1888. 
"  Comrade  H.  H.  Lyman,  Oswego,  N.  Y. : 

"  Dear  Sir  —  You;:  valued  favor  of  the  12th  just  at  hand  and  has  been  care- 
fully noted.  It  is  the  same  old  story  of  wrong  location  of  commands  on  the 
Gettysburg  field.  Bachelder  for  a  long  time,  on  his  map,  left  Hall's  Battery  off 
entirely,  and  then  put  it  back  on  second  ridge,  and  not  until  we  met  on  the 
field  in  1869  could  I  get  him  to  change  it.  I  know  there  was  a  line  of  infantry 
on  my  immediate  right.  The  first  thing  a  battery  commander  would  desire 
to  know  would  be,  how  his  flanks  were  protected;  and  of  course  I  saw  the 
infantry  over  there.  As  to  their  exact  position,  whether  a  prolongation  of 
my  line  or  a  little  retired,  I  cannot  state  definitely;  but,  certainly,  not  300  yards 
in  rear.  General  Reynolds,  who  put  me  in  position,  spoke  to  General  Wads- 
worth  at  the  moment,  directing  him  to  put  a  strong  support  on  my  right, 
which  of  itself  would  have  caused  me  to  keep  an  eye  over  there,  and  I  there  saw 
the  line.     Now,  may  not  all  this  have  resulted  from  Bachelder's  having  at 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1007 

first  believed  the  front  line  was  on  second  ridge,  where  he  at  first  placed  Hall's 
Battery?  Having  found  the  error  in  case  of  the  battery,  he  still  left  the  in- 
fantry back  there,  out  of  place. 

"  Let  reason  guide  you.  What  was  the  infantry  placed  there  for?  To  protect 
Hall's  Battery.  That  infantry  line  was  all  that  there  was  to  the  right  of 
said  battery  at  that  time,  and  was  the  extreme  right  of  our  line,  with  the  enemy 
pressing  the  front  and  flank  closely.  Would  any  sane  man,  any  corporal,  have 
put  the  infantry  support,  in  that  critical  period  and  situation,  300  yards  in 
rear  of  the  artillery  it  was  to  defend  from  a  flank  attack? 

"  You  know  how  difficult  it  is  even  the  next  day  after  a  battle  to  tell  just  how 
things  were. 

"  Very  truly  yours, 

"JAMES  A.  HALL." 


"  Hyde  Park,  Mass.,  December  21,  1888. 

"  H.  H.  Lyman,  Late  Adjt.  147th  N.  Y.  Vols. : 

"  My  Dear  Sir. —  Your  esteemed  favor  of  late  date  is  received.  I  don't  know 
who  marked  the  position  for  your  monument  on  the  field.  I  did  not  (unless 
marking  it  on  the  map  is  so  considered).  Of  course,  I  am  as  well  pleased  with  it 
in  one  position  as  another,  and  the  fact  that  you  were  out  on  the  third  ridge 
would  be  one  reason  why  your  regiment  did  not  get  back  with  the  others. 

"  Although  I  have  written  up  that  portion  of  the  battle  which  describes  the 
part  taken  by  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh,  I  can  and  will  change  it,  for 
I  consider  the  positive  statement  of  Captain  Pierce  and  yourself  of  great  value 
and  entitled  to  recognition.  You  must  not  consider  this  an  exceptional  case,  or 
that  I  have  required  extraordinary  proof  to  establish  your  position.  Such  is  not 
the  case;  every  one  must  pass  the  same  ordeal.  Were  I  to  take  every  sug- 
gestion about  positions,  confusion  would  prevail. 
"  Very  truly  yours, 

"JNO.  B.  BACHELDER, 

"  Govt  Historian  of  Gettysburg." 

Note. —  The  "  extraordinary  proof  required,"  which  Colonel  Bachelder  alludes  to,  con- 
sisted of  letters  and  affidavits  of  over  a  score  of  officers  and  men  of  Hall's  Battery,  the 
One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  New  York,  and  some  of  the  Confederates,  all  of  whom 
took  part  in  the  action  at  the  particular  point  in  question. 


"  Hyde  Park,  Mass.,  March  5,  1889. 
"H.  H.  Lyman,  Esq.,  late  Adjt.  147th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  Oswego,  N.  Y.: 

"  My  Dear  Sir. —  On  returning  from  Washington,  Gettysburg  and  Harris- 
burg,  I  have  found  your  letter  awaiting  me.    I  have  changed  the  "  copy"  of  the 


ioo8  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

first  day's  fight  in  my  history,  and  added  your  version,  and  desire  to  extend  my 
thanks  to  yourself  and  Pierce  for  establishing  the  truth.  And  I  now  ask  of  you 
the  favor  of  writing  me  a  letter  in  the  fullest  detail,  describing  your  regiment's 
part  in  the  battle  from  beginning  to  end.  You  may  present  items  which  ought 
not  to  be  lost,  as  your  late  investigations  have  probably  given  you  new  data. 
1  "  Yours  truly, 

"JNO.  B.  BACHELDER." 


From  Gettysburg,  the  movements  of  the  regiment  for  the  balance  of  the 
season  were  those  of  the  First  Corps,  and  included  many  long  and  forced 
marches  and  some  skirmishing,  but  no  hard  fighting.  At  Haymarket,  October 
19,  1863,  it  lost  a  number  of  men  captured  on  the  picket  line.  It  took  part  in 
the  Mine  Run  campaign  from  November  26th  to  December  2d,  losing  a  few, 
but  sufifering  severely  from  cold  and  want  of  rations  for  the  last  two  days. 

From  January  i  to  May  4,  1864,  it  was  in  camp  near  Culpeper  Court  House, 
Va.  This  was  the  most  comfortable  and  healthful  camp  ever  occupied  by  the 
regiment  for  any  length  of  time,  and  for  the  first  and  only  time,  its  hospital  had 
no  occupants. 

The  First  Corps  having  been  merged  and  consohdated  with  the  Fifth,  we 
moved.  May  4th,  across  the  Rapidan  and  participated  in  the  opening  battles 
of  the  Wilderness,  May  5th,  6th,  and  7th,  sustaining  a  severe  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  as  well  as  prisoners.  Colonel  Miller  fell  severely  wounded,  and  would 
have  been  cremated,  except  that  he  was  recognized  and  carried  off  the  field 
by  officers  of  the  Seventh  Indiana  who,  as  prisoners,  were  being  taken  over 
the  burning  ground,  where  he  lay  unconscious. 

On  the  6th,  the  gallant  Wadsworth  was  killed  on  the  front  line  with  this 
regiment  while  urging  on  and  encouraging  the  men,  saying,  "  Steady,  boys ! 
go  ahead;  there  isn't  danger  enough  to  harm  a  mouse!  "  He  had  hardly  uttered 
these  words  when  he  fell  from  his  horse  mortally  wounded. 

Through  the  whole  month  of  May  the  regiment  was  under  fire  nearly  every 
day,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  battles  of  Piney  Branch  Church,  Laurel  Hill, 
Bloody  Angle,  Spotsylvania,  North  Anna,  and  Bethesda  Church.  The  work  of 
the  month  of  May,  1864,  was  the  severest  ever  endured  by  the  regiment,  as  it 
was  almost  constantly  in  the  immediate  presence  of  the  enemy,  and  half  the  time 
under  skirmish,  artillery,  or  infantry  fire. 

Many  incidents  of  special  interest  occurred  which  space  will  not  permit  me 
to  mention. 

General  Rice,  commanding  the  brigade,  was  severely  wounded  May  nth,  in 
front  of  his  command,  and  died  from  loss  of  blood  after  undergoing  an  amputa- 
tion. Knowing  that  he  was  dying,  he  calmly  said  to  the  attendant:  "  Turn 
my  face  to  the  enemy,"  which  was  done  as  he  expired,  proudly  conscious  to 
the  last  that  his  back  was  never  turned  to  his  country's  foes. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1009 

With  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  June  3d,  and  the  skirmish  at  Bottom's 
Bridge,  June  7th,  the  regiment  concluded  its  operations  north  of  the  Chicka- 
hominy.  On  June  i6th  it  crossed  the  James  River,  and  joined  in  the  long 
and  tedious  siege  of  Petersburg,  in  which  it  was  almost  constantly  under  fire, 
daily  losing  men  wounded  or  killed. 

August  i8th,  with  the  balance  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  it  moved  to  the  left  and 
fought  at  the  battle  of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  near  the  Yellow  House,  August 
i9th-2ist. 

The  regiment  had  a  most  peculiar  and  trying  experience  during  this  so-called 
Weldon  Railroad  raid.  After  the  capture  of  the  railroad^  the  line  was  sur- 
prised and  the  centre  broken.  Hofmann's  Brigade,  which  included  the  One 
hundred  and  forty-seventh,  was  on  the  left  of  the  gap  and  apparently  cut  off. 
Seeing  its  peril.  Colonel  Hofmann  sent  an  aide  to  withdraw  his  command. 
He  had  to  go  a  long  distance  under  hot  fire  and  only  delivered  his  order  to 
the  right  regiment,  with  the  imprudent  injunction  to  "  Pass  it  down  the  line." 
This  was  not  done;  consequently  but  one  regiment  retired.  General  Warren 
from  a  distance,  mistaking  our  three  regiments  for  the  enemy,  opened  a  battery 
on  them.  They  were  successfully  resisting  the  enemy  in  front  and  flank,  but 
the  shelling  from  friends  was  killing  more  men  than  the  bullets  of  the  enemy. 
For  a  few  moments,  until  the  battery  was  apprised  of  its  error,  our  men  were 
jumping  first  to  one  side  and  then  the  other  of  the  breastworks.  However,  the 
failure  of  the  staff  officer  to  deliver  his  orders  resulted  in  holding  possession 
of  the  road,  which  was  the  main  object  of  the  expedition  and  battle.  This  was 
the  second  experience  of  the  kind  for  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh,  and 
recalled  Gettysburg,  where  the  failure  to  receive  orders  to  retire  from  McPher- 
son's  Ridge  had  compelled  them,  at  great  sacrifice,  to  remain  and  continue 
an  uneven  and  desperate  fight,  which  resulted  in  disaster  to  the  enemy  in  the 
loss  of  a  large  portion  of  Davis'  Brigade,  delayed  and  broke  up  Lee's  advance 
division,  gaining  valuable  time,  and  secured  to  General  Meade  the  advan- 
tageous field  of  Gettysburg  upon  which  to  fight  the  great  battle  of  the  war. 

September  30th,  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Peebles'  Farm^  and  assisted  in  the  capture  of  two  newly-built  forts.  The  regi- 
ment having  been  used  as  a  decoy  for  the  enemy,  lost  quite  a  number  of 
prisoners,  but  no  lives. 

At  Hatcher's  Run,  October  27th  and  28th,  it  lost  none  in  killed,  but  a  few 
in  prisoners,  who  were  captured  in  endeavoring  to  find  and  make  connections 
with  advancing  lines.  This  number  included  Col.  George  Harney,  a  loss 
severely  felt  by  the  regiment.  After  the  Hicksford  or  second  Weldon  Railroad 
raid,  December  6th- nth,  which  was  remarkable  for  the  cold  and  suffering  en- 
dured, the  regiment  returned  and  went  into  camp  near  Petersburg,  where  for 
some  time  nothing  of  importance  occurred. 

February  5,  1865,  it  again  .advanced  by  way  of  Dinwiddle  Court  House 
to  Hatcher's  Run  where,  on  the  6th,  7th  and  8th,  the  corps  fought  a  most  des- 
perate battle,  consisting  of  several  engagements,  the  regiment  sustaining  severe 
loss.  In  this  battle  the  One  hundred  and  forty-seventh  fought  near  Dabney's 
Mill,  where  the  regiment  rendered  notably  good  service,  for  which  its  officers 
and  men  received  flattering  commendation  from  general  officers.    Eight  of  its 

64 


lOio  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

noncommissioned  officers  and  men  volunteered  to  follow  Lieutenant  Esmond 
with  the  brigade  colors  to  the  front  of  the  line,  where  General  Morrow  was 
making  superhuman  efiforts  to  advance  his  shattered  command,  which  was  short 
of  ammunition,  upon  the  enemy's  reinforced  lines,  under  a  galling  and  destruc- 
tive fire.  Captain  McKinley,  of  Company  I,  had  the  colors.  Captain  Coey, 
commanding  the  regiment,  seized  them  and  began  to  advance,  when  Captain 
McKinley,  taking  them  from  him,  carried  them  to  General  Morrow,  who  was 
also  in  front  of  the  line,  assuring  him  that  the  regiment  would  follow  them 
to  Hades,  if  he  so  ordered.  The  general  bowed  and  pointed  towards  the  enemy. 
The  effect  was  electrical,  and  the  whole  brigade  went  forward  with  a  rush.  Cap- 
tain Coey  was  shot  through  the  head,  but  regaining  consciousness  kept  the 
field  until  the  battle  was  won.  For  his  part  in  this  battle  Captain  Coey  was 
awarded  a  Medal  of  Honor  by  Congress.  Captain  Joseph  Dempsey,  who 
had  the  right  of  the  line  and  pushed  his  company  (K)  to  the  front  and  consider- 
ably in  advance  of  the  line,  was  severely  wounded;  and  Lieutenant  Bristol,  of 
the  same  company,  was  killed.  Captain  Dempsey  was  commissioned  Brevet 
Major,  U.  S.  A.,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  service  in  this  battle. 

March  25th  the  regiment  was  on  the  road  before  daylight  to  go  to  the  relief 
of  Fort  Stedman,  which  had  been  surprised  and  captured  in  the  night,  but  was 
recaptured  early  in  the  morning.  In  the  afternoon  the  division  was  reviewed 
by  President  Lincoln,  and  marched  directly  from  the  field  of  review  towards 
the  enemy,  who  had  opened  fire  on  our  lines  during  the  progress  of  the  review. 

On  the  29th  of  March  began  the  closing  campaign,  and  about  sunset  of  that 
day  the  regiment,  with  the  Fifty-sixth  Pennsylvania,  made  a  gallant  attack  and 
captured  White  Oak  Ridge  with  little  loss.  On  the  31st,  it  suffered  most 
severely  in  the  tangled  woods  and  swamp  while  attempting  to  take  the  White 
Oak  Road.  It  took  part  in  the  famous  battle  of  Five  Forks,  and  from  that 
time  on  was  constantly  on  the  move  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  was  on  the 
skirmish  hne  when  the  white  flag  went  down  the  lines  at  Appomattox.  After 
a  good  rest,  they  marched  leisurely  overland  to  Washington,  participated  in 
the  Grand  Review,  and  were  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service  at 
Bailey's  Cross  Roads,  June  7th,  and  out  of  the  State's  service  at  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.,  July  7,  1865,  reaching  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  with  147  of  the  original  837 
enlisted  men  who  had  left  there  three  years  prior. 

The  regiment  had  received  recruits  so  that  its  total  enrollment  was  2,102. 

Losses. 

Killed  and  died  of  wounds  or  disease  during  service 347 

Wounded  and  recovered  .  .  .  . , 411 

Captured,  less  those  who  died  in  prison  (71) 124 

Total  battle  losses 882 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT. 


F.  J.  SEVERENCE,  PHOTO, 


149th    new    YORK    INFANTRY. 

On  Gulp's  Hill,  on  line  of  Greene's  New  York  Brigade, 


New  Yqrk  at  Gettysburg.  ioH 

(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


{Front) 

149th  new  YORK  INFANTRY 

3rd  brigade  — 3nd  DIVISION 

13th  corps 

Flag  was  planted  in  works.    Shot  down  and  mended  under  fire. 

(Reverse) 

5  P.  M.  July  i,  1863,  occupied  position  near 

Little  Round  Top.    4  A.  M.  July  2,  moved  here, 

built  these  works  and  defended  them  July  2 

AND  3.    Killed  6,  wounded  46,  missing  3. 

Mustered  in  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  18,  1862. 

Total  enlistments  1,270.    Total  losses  602. 

Mustered  out  June  12,  1865. 


Engagements. 
Chancelloesville,  Lost  Mountain 

Gettysburg,  Kolb's  Farm, 

Wauhatchie,  Kenesaw  Mountain, 

Lookout  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek 

Missionary  Ridge,  Siege  of  Atlanta 

Ringgold,  March  to  the  Sea, 

Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Siege  of  Savannah, 

Resaca,  Campaign  of  the 

Carolinas 
New  Hope  Churc^ 

Pine  Mountain  Bentonville. 


IOI2  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

149th  regiment  INFANTRY. 
September  i8,  1892. 

Remarks  of  Miss  Helen  Collins  at  the  Unveiling. 
Members  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth: 

It  not  having  been  my  pleasure  to  be  present  at  your  last  a^inual  reunion  at 
Maple  Bay,  permit  me  now  to  tender  my  heartfelt  thanks  for  electing  me 
"  Daughter  of  the  Regiment,"  an  honor  I  highly  esteem,  and  a  name  I  trust  I 
shall  always  worthily  bear. 

During  the  last  few  years,  in  assisting  my  father  in  your  behalf,  I  have  become 
more  or  less  intimately  acquainted  with  the  history  of  your  regiment  and  the 
honorable  career  of  its  members;  hence  it  now  gives  me  great  pleasure  and- 
satisfaction,  as  "  Daughter  of  the  Regiment,"  to  unveil  this  beautiful  monu- 
ment erected  by  the  State  of  New  York  on  this  memorable  battlefield  as  a 
worthy  testimonial  of  your  loyalty  and  valor.  So  long  as  a  vestige  of  this 
granite  shaft  remains,  let  it  stand  as  a  memorial  tribute  to  patriotism  and 
courage,  such  as  has  been  seldom  equalled  and  never  excelled  by  any  body 
of  men. 


ORATION  BY  COL.  LEWIS  R.  STEGMAN,  103d  N.  Y.  VOLS.      - 
Comrades  of  the  Old  Brigade: 

We  are  met  to-day  to  commemorate  a  service  rendered  upon  this  historic  field 
by  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  New  York  Volunteers  in  a  crisis  of  the 
great  battle,  and  where  victory  perched  upon  its  banners.  On  this  spot,  under 
the  spreading  boughs,  occurred  a  contest  seldom  paralleled  in  war  for  its  in- 
tensity, and  still  more  for  its  significance.  Here  occurred  the  brilliant  defence 
of  Gulp's  Hill  by  Greene's  New  York  Brigade,  the  tireless  fighting  for  two 
days,  with  deeds  of  surpassing  valor  and  the  salvation  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

Let  us  briefly  review  the  record.  On  the  morning  of  July  ist  the  Twelfth 
Corps  lay  at  Littlestown,  and  from  there  proceeded  to  Two  Taverns,  on  the 
Baltimore  Pike,  where  it  bivouacked  pursuant  to  general  army  orders.  The 
corps  was  commanded  by  our  beloved  and  gallant  Slocum,  and  while  ar- 
ranging a  pleasant  camp  for  the  day,  disconsolate  citizens  fleeing  from  Gettys- 
burg informed  him  that  a  fight  was  going  on  at  the  town.  Without  further 
orders,  and  to  the  sound  of  the  guns,  Slocum's  Corps  was  hurried  to  the  front. 
Reaching  this  immediate  vicinity,  while  the  First  and  the  Eleventh  Corps  were 
still  staggering  under  the  blows  inflicted  in  the  course  of  the  terrific  contest 
of  the  day,  Williams'  Division  was  directed  to  Wolf's  Hill  on  the  right,  Geary's 
Division  to  the  left,  taking  position  under  Little  Round  Top,  and  forwarding 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1013 

its  skirmishers  to  the  Emmitsburg  Road.  The  Twelfth  Corps  protected  the 
right  and  left  of  the  army  line. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  July,  the  whole  corps  was  gathered  together  on 
these  eminences  and  in  these  declivities,  the  left  on  the  line  of  the  apex  of  Gulp's 
Hill,  touching  Wadsworth's  Division,  and  extending  to  a  hill  beyond  Spangler's 
Spring  on  the  right.  Greene's  Brigade,  of  Geary's  Division,  of  Slocum's  Corps, 
occupied  the  ground  upon  which  we  stand  to-day.  It  was  a  bright  and  pleasant 
morning  when  they  arrived  upon  the  site,  and  the  soldiers  felt  restful  under  the 
shade  of  the  magnificent  trees.  While  thus  resting  an  order  came  to  build 
breastworks.  It  is  said  that  General  Geary  objected  to  it,  but  General  Greene 
persisted.  The  men  who  fought  here  may  thank  God  for  that  persistence.  It 
saved  incalculable  lives  and  turned  the  tide  of  battle. 

The  breastworks  were  simple,  composed  of  logs,  rocks,  cordwood,  fence  rails 
and  earth;  but  they  were  formidable,  and  when  finished  there  was  a  feeling  of 
satisfaction  among  men  and  officers.  There  was  a  possibility  of  their  use,  and 
if  so,  there  they  were,  ready.  It  was  only  the  second  time  in  their  history 
that  the  regiments  of  the  brigade  had  built  intrenchments,  and  the  first  trial 
of  their  merits  had  not  proven  fortunate,  as  the  heavy  death-iroU  of  the  One 
hundred  and  forty-ninth,  and  the  flanking  at  Chancellorsville  gives  evidence. 
Yet,  they  built  these  works  willingly  and  with  heartiness,  only  hoping  that 
they  might  prove  serviceable. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  2d  of  July,  the  regiments  of  Greene's  Brigade  lay 
in  the  following  order:  Seventy-eighth,  Sixtieth,  One  hundred  and  second.  One 
hundred  and  forty-ninth,  and  One  hundred  and  thirty-seventh;  five  regiments, 
numbering  only  1,240  muskets  and  70  swords;  1,310  men  in  all.  Out  in  the 
front,  over  beyond  Rock  Creek,  commanding  the  skirmish  line  and  watching 
Benner's  Hill,  was  Lieut.  Col.  John  O.  Reddington.  Under  him  were  details 
of  all  the  regiments  of  the  division. 

About  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  first  awakening  incident  of  the  day 
occurred.  From  the  extreme  left  came  the  thunder  roll  of  artillery  and  mus- 
ketry, the  attack  of  Longstreet  on  Sickles,  while  directly  on  Gulp's  Hill  artil- 
lery was  blazing  from  the  Union  batteries,  replied  to  by  the  Confederate  cannon, 
and  the  balls  hurled  and  crashed  through  the  trees  with  ominous  sound.  It 
gave  evidence  that  an  enemy  was  in  front,  and  the  lines  were  all  alert.  The 
Confederate  battery  was  dismounted,  and  at  Gulp's  Hill  silence  reigned,  al- 
though from  the  left.  Sickles'  position,  the  roar  of  conflict  was  steady  and  in- 
cessant. 

In  the  dim  twilight  of  these  woods,  eagerly  listening  to  that  combat,  lay 
Greene's  Brigade,  when  suddenly  orders  were  received  for  the  column  to  move 
by  the  right  flank  and  to  extend  and  lengthen  its  line;  and  while  so  doing  the 
Seventy-eighth  New  York  was  quickly  moved  over  the  works  to  reinforce  the 
skirmish  lines.  The  first  shot  of  the  skirmish  fire  could  be  heard  at  the  front. 
Still  the  line  moved  in  extension,  the  One  hundred  and  second  New  York 
occupying  the  works  built  by  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth,  the  latter  those 
built  by  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-seventh,  and  the  latter  occupying  the 
rifle  pits  of  Kane's  Pennsylvania  Brigade,  a  prolongation  of  this  line.    To  cover 


IOI4  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

this  distance  there  was  a  very  thin  Hne,  the  men  being  fully  a  foot  apart,  in 
single  rank.     Let  this  be  fully  understood  to  appreciate  what  follows. 

The  cause  of  this  was  an  order  from  General  Meade,  transferring  the  whole 
Twelfth  Corps  to  the  succor  of  Sickles.  General  Slocum  knew  that  an  enemy 
was  on  this  front,  and  he  protested;  he  knew  and  realized  the  peril  of  a  vacancy 
bere,  but  General  Meade  insisted,  and  only  at  the  last  moment  granted  permis- 
sion to  retain  one  brigade  to  cover  this  extensive  line,  Williams'  Division  and 
two  brigades  of  Geary's  Division  leaving  the  works.  Greene's  Brigade,  being 
the  extreme  left  of  the  corps,  was,  by  General  Slocum's  order,  selected  to  hold 
the  place. 

The  removal  of  almost  two  full  divisions  nearly  proved  a  calamity  to  the 
whole  army.  It  was  a  suicidal  move.  Well  does  Bates,  the  Pennsylvania  his- 
torian, say:  "A  worse  blunder  could  not  have  been  committed,  for  Greene's 
Brigade  was  left  hanging  in  air  and  would  have  been  utterly  routed,  had  a  man 
of  less  nerve  than  Greene  commanded,  or  troops  less  resolute  and  daring  oc- 
cupied that  ground." 

And  who  was  opposite?  It  was  Ewell,  commanding  the  victorious  legions 
that  had  so  often  followed  the  sword  and  leadership  of  "  Stonewall "  Jackson 
to  success.  Johnson's  Division,  with  the  old  "  Stonewall  Brigade "  was  in 
this  immediate  front.  The  extension  of  Greene's  line  had  scarcely  been  com- 
pleted, when  artillery  and  musketry  told  of  a  conflict  close  by,  the  attack  of  the 
Louisiana  Tigers  on  Cemetery  Hill,  and  as  the  sound  came  over  the  crest  of 
Gulp's  Hill,  the  skirmish  fire  in  this  front  increased  in  fury,  while  Reddington's 
bugles  ordered  retreat.  The  skirmish  line  was  driven  in,  sullenly  fighting,  until 
they  were  within  the  works  with  the  main  Hne,  followed  closely  by  the  Con- 
federate columns,  four  brigades,  Jones,  Nichols,  Steuart,  and  Walker,  22  regi- 
ments, 10,000  men,  massed  all  against  this  little  brigade  front,  under  these  trees. 

Up  over  the  creek  and  into  the  woods  they  came,  with  the  fierce  Con- 
federate battle  cry,  and  then  the  Union  musketry  rang  along. the  whole  line, 
deepening  as  the  enemy  came  in.  They  fell  back  demoralized  as  the  besom  of 
death  swept  down  their  ranks.  They  fought  with  desperation  close  up  to  the 
Union  lines,  and  then  went  back  and  down.  Another  line  replaces  them,  and 
then  another,  the  crash  of  the  musketry  seeming  and  being  in  the  very  faces  of 
the  contending  forces.  Terrible  is  the  havoc  in  this  arena,  and  giants  seemed 
contending  for  the  mastery.  And  thus  for  three  hours  there  was  a  desperate,  re- 
lentless warfare.  The  Confederates  have  discovered  the  openings  upon  the 
right,  have  turned  the  right  flank  of  the  brigade,  the  extension  thrown  out  in 
the  Second  Brigade  works,  but  the  regiment  there  simply  tetires  to  the 
traverses  and  still  fights  on  with  daring  intrepidity.  Bullets  now  are  flying  from 
front,  right,  and  rear;  but  with  dauntless  heroism  the  brigade  fights  on,  and 
there  comes  a  lull  in  the  storm.  Four  desperate  charges  have  been  repelled, 
and  not  one  inch  of  the  original  brigade  Hne  has  been  lost. 

And  what  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  in  these  perilous  hours?  Right 
here  it  stood,  here  it  fought,  here  it  mastered  the  foe.  In  its  historic  character 
it  is  part  of  Greene's  Brigade,  at  Gulp's  Hill,  but  just  upon  this  spofc  is  defined 
its  own  personality.  Here  Barnum's  eyes  surveyed  the  men;  here,  in  the  terror 
of  the  battle,  the  magnificent  Randall  gave  his  courageous  commands,  and  here 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1015 

Lilly  twice  spliced  the  flagstaff  shot  from  his  hands  as  he  reared  them  aloft, 
riddled  and  torn  by  eighty  gaping  wounds.  Does  that  tell  a  tale?  It  means 
that  where  that  flag  stood  was  an  ordeal  bf  death;  that  the  men  who  defended 
it  that  night  and  the  next  day,  who  fired  their  muskets  and  held  their  swords, 
were  worthy  to  be  enshrined  with  the  noblest,  the  bravest,  and  the  truest  of 
soldiers  who  have  ever  lived  in  any  generation.  Here  they  proved  a  heroism 
never  surpassed  in  the  annals  of  warfare. 

Not  alone  was  the  terrific  night  fight  one  of  masterly  courage,  but  for  seven 
hours  of  the  succeeding  day,  against  three  more  desperate  charges,  they  gave 
evidence  of  their  sterling  endurance  and  valor.  It  was  during  the  morning  of 
the  3d  of  July  that  the  One  hundred  and  twenty-second  New  York,  your  kins- 
men from  Onondaga  County,  of  Shaler's  Brigade,  sprang  to  your  assistance. 
But  what  you  did  here  alone  and  unassisted  can  never  be  obliterated  from 
history. 

The  story  that  each  man  in  your  ranks  expended  300  rounds  of  ammunition, 
the  dead  trees  lining  this  front,  rendered  lifeless  by  the  merciless  musketry, 
and  the  long  trenches  of  Confederate  dead,  tell  a  tale  of  destruction  seldom 
paralleled  in  modern  warfare. 

General  Greene,  in  his  brigade  report  of  the  battle,  states'  that  596  dead 
were  on  this  side  of  Rock  Creek,  and  2,400  stands  of  arms  were  secured.  It 
was  a  tale  of  disaster  for  Johnson's  Division,  and  to  Smith,  O'Neal,  and 
Daniel,  of  Rodes'  Division. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Colonel  Bachelder,  the  great  historian  of  Gettys- 
burg, it  is  learned  that  the  attack  upon  your  direct  front  was  made  by  Nichols' 
Brigade,  commanded  by  Colonel  Williams,  and  composed  of  Louisiana  troops. 
The  Confederate  first  front  was,  Jones  on  the  right,  Nichols  in  the  centre,  and 
Steuart  on  the  left,  with  Walker  in  reserve,  and  Smith's,  O'Neal's  and  Daniel's 
Brigades  supporting.  At  different  times  these  brigades  relieved  each  other. 
Brave  as  they  were,  their  officers  were  compelled  to  use  their  swords  to  force 
them  to  the  front,  and  the  bayonet  impelled  others.  They  knew  that  human  be- 
ings could  not  live  under  the  merciless  fire  from  these  works.  The  loss  of  this 
position  meant  pandemonium  for  the  Union  army.  Directly  in  rear  was  the 
reserve  artillery  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  while  within  rifle  shot  was  the 
centre  of  the  whole  force, —  weak,  for  its  strength  had  been  depleted  to  supply 
the  left.  And  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  was  a  part  of  the  bulwark  that 
resisted  this  appalling  menace  —  this  menace  to  the  right  and  the  centre 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  with  all  its  terrible  and  grave  possibilities;  and 
this  in  brief  epitome  is  the  record  of  your  regiment  in  this  decisive  battle  of 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

The  old,  battle-torn  regiment!  What  brilliant  lustre  gathers  about  its 
standards,  and  reflects  its  sheen  upon  comradeship.  In  Colonel  Fox's  book, 
"  Regimental  Losses  in  the  Civil  War,"  it  is  noted  as  among  the  300  fighting 
regiments  whose  losses  were  among  the  heaviest  of  the  thousands  of  regiments 
engaged,  proportionate  to  its  number  of  men. 

One  hundred  and  thirty-three  dead  heroes  lost  in  battle,  pearly  600  of  all 
losses,  out  of  a  total  of  a  little  over  1,100,  attest  the  manhood  of  the  gallant  band 
who  composed  its  rank  and  file. 


ioi6  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

It  made  an  historic  name.  Its  banners  fluttered  over  Chancellorsville,  Gettys- 
burg, and  Wauhatchie,  and  Lookout  Mountain  in  the  "  battle  above  the  clouds." 
It  charged  at  Missionary  Ridge,  and  dashed  fearlessly  onward  at  Ringgold. 
With  Sherman  it  marched  to  the  Sea,  storming  Resaca,  fighting  at  Cassville, 
charging  at  New  Hope  Church,  at  Pine  Mountain,  Kolb's  Farm,  and  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  and  battling  at  Atlanta. 

It  pursued  the  enemy  across  the  length  of  Georgia,  entering  Savannah,  and 
thence  across  South  and  North  Carolina,  with  bloody  track  at  Bentonville  and 
Averasboro,  to  Goldsboro,  until  with  Johnston's  surrender,  its  task  was  done, 
and  the  war  was  ended. 

All  honor  to  the  noble  regiment,  its  living  and  its  dead! 


ADDRESS  BY  MAJ.  GEN.  HENRY  W.  SLOCUM. 
Comrades,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

We  have  assembled  to  dedicate  this  beautiful  monument,  which  marks  one 
of  the  places  where  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  New  York  Volunteers 
fought  on  this  field.  My  relations  to  this  regiment  were  peculiar.  It  was 
raised  in  my  native  county.  Many  of  its  members  were  my  personal  friends. 
It  served  with  me  from  the  battle  of  Antietam  to  the  close  of  the  war,  taking 
an  active  and  important  part,  not  only  on  this  field,  but  in  a  score  of  other 
battles.  It  was  with  me  on  the  great  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  Sea,  and 
from  Savannah  to  Washington.  I  should  be  ungrateful,  indeed,  if  I  failed  to 
do  all  in  my  power  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  its  gallant  deeds. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  a  few  gentlemen,  foreseeing  the  interest 
which  must  be  felt  in  the  field  on  which  the  turning  battle  of  the  great  civic 
war  was  fought,  formed  an  organization  known  as  the  "  Gettysburg  Battlefield 
Memorial  Association."  A  portion  of  land  on  which  the  battle  was  fought  was 
purchased,  and  it  became  the  property  of  the  Association.  The  locations  of 
tlie  various  regiments  and  batteries  were  marked.  The  first  monument  erected 
on  the  field  was  the  one  on  this  line,  erected  by  Massachusetts  to  mark  the 
place  where  so  many  men  of  the  gallant  Second  Massachusetts  gave  up  their 
lives.  This  was  followed  by  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  Then  some  of  the 
soldiers  of  our  State,  remembering  that  we  had  more  men  in  this  battle,  and 
lost  more  in  killed  and  wounded  than  any  other  State,  went  to  our  legislature 
and  secured  an  appropriation  of  $1,500  for  each  regiment  and  battery  from 
New  York,  to  be  used  in  the  erection  of  monuments.  We  have  now  on  this 
field  eighty-two  monuments.  I  congratulate  you  that  after  the  lapse  of  twenty- 
nine  years  you  are  permitted  to  return,  and  with  this  monument  mark  the 
place  where  you  and  your  comrades  so  gallantly  fought. 

For  many  years  after  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  English  historians,  poets  and 
novelists  vied  with  each  other  in  glorifying  the  heroes  who  fought  under  Wel- 
lington on  that  renowned  field.  These  laudations  reached  every  fireside  where 
the  English  language  was  spoken. 

In  my  schoolboy  days,  a  part  of  our  daily  exercises  in  reading  was  an  extract 
from  "  Childe  Harold  "  on  the  celebrated  ball  given  by  the  Duchess  of  Rich- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1017 

mond  to  the  officers  of  Wellington's  army,  on  the  night  before  the  battle  of 

Waterloo. 

"  There  was  a  sound  of  revelry  by  night, 
And  Belgium's  capital  had  gathered   then 
Her  beauty  and  her  chivalry,  and  bright 
The  lamps  shone  o'er  fair  women  and  brave  men." 

Every  schoolboy  could  repeat  these  lines  from  Byron.  And  at  that  time  I 
thought,  if  I  ever  crossed  the  ocean,  my  first  visit  would  be  to  that  far-famed 
field,  and  that  the  sight  of  it  and  of  one  of  the  heroes  who  fought  there  would 
amply  recompense  me  for  the  journey. 

And,  yet,  comrades,  you  fought  on  this  field  a  battle  greater  than  that  of 
Waterloo;  greater  in  the  number  of  men  engaged;  greater  in  the  loss  of  killed 
and  wounded;  and  far  greater  in  its  effect  upon  the  destinies  of  mankind. 

You  often  hear  some  of  your  comrades  spoken  of  as  "poor  old  soldiers." 
Some  of  them,  I  regret  to  say,  are  poor  —  poor  in  health  and  poor  in  pocket. 
But,  in  another  sense,  no  good  soldier  is  absolutely  poor.  We  are  all  rich  in 
a  wealth  of  memory;  rich  in  feelings  such  as  must  have  come  rushing  upon 
you  as  you  approached  this  field  after  the  lapse  of  twenty-nine  years.  They 
are  all  rich  in  a  nation's  gratitude. 

During  our  Gvil  War  there  were  men  in  every  Northern  State  of  an  age 
and  in  a  physical  condition  to  qualify  them  for  the  service,  and  had  no  ties 
binding  them  to  their  homes  stronger  than  those  which  bound  you  and  me  to 
ours,  but  who  could  not  be  drawn  into  the  ranks  even  by  the  draft.  Some  of 
them  cannot  prove  to-day  by  their  substitutes  that  they  ever  bade  "  God  speed  " 
to  one  of  these  substitutes,  or  to  any  other  soldier  as  he  marched  to  the  field. 
Some  of  them  cannot  prove  by  their  own  families  that  in  the  hour  of  the  Na- 
tion's peril  they  did  so  much  patriotic  service  as  to  even  breathe  the  hope  that 
the  next  news  from  the  front  would  bring  tidings  of  a  Union  victory.  They  spent 
their  time  criticising  the  government  —  cursing  Lincoln's  hirelings  and  damn- 
ing the  draft  law.  And  when  the  war  was  over,  disappointed  that  it  had  not 
proven  a  failure,  some  of  them  sought  to  rob  the  government  creditor  by  com- 
pelling the  redemption  of  his  bonds  by  an  unlimited  issue  of  paper  money. 

Now,  my  comrades,  I  know  not  of  what  you  think  of  this  breed  of  patriots, 
but  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that,  in  my  judgment,  the  poorest  old 
soldier  that  served  on  this  field,  as  he  hobbles  past  you  on  crutches  and  in  rags, 
is  rich  in  comparison  with  one  of  them. 

Once  more  I  congratulate  you  on  the  happy  circumstances  under  which 
you  are  permitted  to  return  to  this  field  which  reflects  so  much  honor  upon 
you.  To-morrow  you  go  to  the  Nation's  Capital,  and  will  march  once  more 
over  the  same  route  that  you  followed  at  the  Grand  Review  at  the  close  of 
the  war.  You  will  find  the  Capital  greatly  improved.  Instead  of  a  straggling 
village  with  unpaved  and  dirty  streets,  you  will  find  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
cities  in  the  world  —  a  city  teeming  with  life  and  prosperity.  The  improvement 
in  the  city  of  Washington  is  typical  of  that  of  our  entire  country.  We  are  a 
prosperous  and  happy  people,  and  to  you  and  to  your  comrades  the  Nation  is 
indebted  for  this  prosperity  and  happiness. 


ioi8  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


TRANSFER  OF  MONUMENT. 
By  Capt.  George  K.  Collins. 

Mr.  Chairman,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

I  will  take  your  time,  knowing  how  precious  it  is,  for  only  a  few  moments. 
In  performing  the  present  task  which  has  been  assigned  me,  it  seems  proper 
that  I  should  say  a  few  words  in  relation  to  the  history  of  this  monument. 

Four  or  five  years  ago  Major  Coville  and  myself  visited  this  battlefield,  and 
here  found  our  late  friend  and  comrade,  Gen.  Henry  A.  Barnum.  At  that  time 
several  of  the  states  had  monuments  marking  positions  of  regiments,  and 
most  of  the  places  of  interest  were  well  known  and  designated  by  tablets  and 
other  things  to  mark  locations.  Every  one  we  met  was  talking  about  the 
"  Bloody  Angle,"  "  Pickett's  Charge,"  "  Little  Round  Top,"  "  Devil's  Den,"  and 
the  "  Railroad  Cut "  back  of  Seminary  Ridge.  But  only  one  or  two  monu- 
ments had  been  erected  to  honor  the  men  of  the  great  State  of  New  York,  and 
these  by  private  contribution;  and  "  Gulp's  "  Hill  was  little  known  and  seldom 
visited,  except  by  those  who  had  been  engaged  there.  This  state  of  affairs 
was  deplored  by  our  party,  and  before  we  separated  we  pledged  ourselves, 
one  to  another,  that  we  would  see  a  monument  erected  in  honor  of  our  be- 
loved regiment  on  this  spot,  where  so  many  erf  our  valiant  men  shed  their 
blood  in  defence  of  the  country  on  that  memorable  July  2  and  3,  1863.  When 
we  returned  home  it  was  our  intention  at  once  to  commence  the  task  of 
raising  funds;  but  we  were  soon  informed  by  General  Barnum  that  it  had 
been  proposed  by  a  few  patriotic  citizens  to  introduce  a  bill  in  the  legislature 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  for  the  purpose  of  honoring  its  different  commands 
on  this  battlefield  by  erecting  memorial  monuments  in  their  behalf.  As  you 
all  well  know,  under  a  bill  subsequently  passed.  General  Sickles,  General  Slo- 
cum,  and  others  were  appointed  commissioners,  and  provisions  were  made 
by  which  each  regiment  and  separate  command  from  the  State  of  New  York, 
taking  part  in  this  engagement,  had  $1,500  set  apart  to  it  for  a  monument  on 
this  battlefield. 

At  the  first  reunion  of  the  regiment  after  our  visit.  Col.  Abel  G.  Cook,  Col. 
Henry  N.  Burhans,  Maj.  Thomas  Merriam,  Maj.  Orson  Coville,  Com. 
John  Gebhardt  and  myself  were  selected  as  a  committee  to  supervise  and  at- 
tend to  the  erection  of  a  monument  at  this  place,  and  at  the  head  of  that 
committee  it  was  the  pleasure  of  the  regiment  to  designate  myself  as  chairman. 
To  this  committee  was  subsequently  added  the  name  of  our  honored  chairman. 
Col.  Nicholas  Grumbach,  and  that  of  Gen.  Henry  A.  Barnum,  since  deceased. 
This  monument  committee  at  once  entered  into  a  contract  with  the  Smith 
Granite  Company  for  the  erection  of  a  monument,  which  contract  was  ratified 
and  adopted  by  the  New  York  Commission.  Three  years  ago  with  other 
members  of  the  old  Third  Brigade,  we  came  here  to  dedicate  wha;  had  been 
prepared  by  this  company;  but  on  assembling,  the  structure  presented  was 
so  far  from  a  compliance  with  the  specifications  of  the  contract,  we  refused  to 
accept  it  and  called  upon  the  New  York  Commission  for  its  rejection.  This 
after  a  long  and  tedious  delay  was  finally  done  and  a  new  monument  was 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1019 

contracted  for  which  now  stands  before  you.  I  trust  it  meets  the  approval  of 
every  comrade  present,  and  will  give  pleasure  and  be  a  matter  of  pride  to  every 
member  of  this  regiment  that  shall  hereafter  visit  this  battlefield. 

One  word  more  in  reference  to  the  design  on  the  tablet,  and  my  pleasing 
task  is  ended.  When  a  design  was  first  broached,  a  statue  placed  on  a  suitable 
pedestal  was  suggested,  and  a  pleasing  and  an  appropriate  subject  was  sought 
after.  The  courageous  act  of  Color  Sergt.  WilUam  C.  Lilly,  who  during  the 
engagement  at  this  place  saw  the  staff  of  his  colors  while  standing  on  yon 
breastwork  shot  in  twain,  gathered  up  the  pieces  and  coolly,  under  fire,  mended 
the  broken  member  with  splints  from  a  cracker  box  and  straps  from  his  knap- 
sack, was  recalled.  It  resulted  in  a  design  drafted  by  Comrade  George  J.  Sager, 
representing  this  act  of  heroism  of  our  color  bearer. 

Afterwards  a  tablet  was  suggested  by  General  Barnum  showing  breastworks 
and  men  under  fire  placed  behind  it;  this  resulted  in  the  embodiment  of  the 
two  ideas  blended  in  one  design.  With  this  in  mind  the  drawings  which  had  al- 
ready been  made  with  the  suggestions  of  different  members  of  the  committee 
were  submitted  to  the  great  war  artist,  Edwin  Forbes,  who  elaborated  and  per- 
fected a  design  on  canvas  from  which  this  tablet  was  modeled  in  clay,  and 
a  mould  perfected  in  plaster  by  Mr.  Ralph  Cook  of  Syracuse,  in  the  employ 
of  Francis  &  Co.,  the  contractors  and  erectors  of  this  monument  Whatever 
honor  there  is  in  unfolding  and  perfecting  this  design  is  due  to  the  several 
persons  whom  I  have  named. 

And  now  it  is  my  pleasure  and  honor  to  turn  this  monument  over  to  the 
Battlefield  Memorial  Association,  in  whose  charge  henceforth  it  will  remain. 
In  closing,  I  desire  to  add  as  historian,  as  well  as  a  member  of  the  regiment, 
that  I  feel  justified  in  saying  jt  stands  here  the  memorial  tribute  to  as  gallant  a 
regiment  as  ever  wielded  a  sword  or  shouldered  a  musket 


ACCEPTANCE  OF  MONUMENT. 

By  Col.  Nicholas  Grumbach. 
Comrades: 

On  behalf  of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Association,  which  I  am  commis- 
sioned to  represent  on  this  occasion,  I  take  pleasure  in  accepting  this  splendid 
testimonial  to  your  bravery  on  this  battlefield,  and  your  devotion  to  your 
country.  As  comrades,  we  sincerely  appreciate  what  the  State  of  New  York  has 
done  in  erecting  this  beautiful  and  enduring  monument  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  the  services  performed  by  us  at  this  place,  and  that  a  government 
by  the  people,  and  for  the  people  might  be  preserved  among  men.  In  closing, 
I  desire,  on  behalf  of  the  regiment,  to  thank  the  New  York  Commission  for 
its  work  on  our  behalf,  and  its  kindly  consideration  of  all  our  many  requests 
made  during  the  progress  of  the  work  of  adopting  and  erecting  the  monument 
now  dedicated. 


I020  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 

The  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  Volunteers  were  organized  and  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service  at  Syracuse,  the  17th  and  l8th  of  September, 
1862,  and  departed  for  the  seat  of  war  on  the  23d  of  the  same  month,  passing 
Elmira,  Baltimore,  and  Washington  on  its  way  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
then  located  about  Harper's  Ferry.  On  the  reorganization  of  the  Twelfth 
Corps,  it  was  assigned  to  duty  in  Greene's  Third  Brigade  of  Geary's  Second 
Division.  When  the  army  left  Harper's  Ferry  in  October,  1862,  the  Twelfth 
Corps,  then  commanded  by  General  Slocum,  was  left  behind  to  guard  that 
place  against  the  approaches  of  General  Jackson,  who  was  then  in  occupation 
of  the  upper  end  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley;  but  after  Jackson  went  east  the 
One  hundred  and  forty-ninth,  with  the  Twelfth  Corps,  joined  the  main  army 
then  lying  between  Falmouth  and  Aquia  Creek  in  the  middle  of  the  winter,  in 
time  to  participate  in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  which  took  place  under 
General  Hooker,  May  2  and  3,  1863.  In  this  engagement,  the  Twelfth  Corps 
took  an  important  part,  and  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  received  its  first 
baptism  of  blood,  which  occasioned  a  loss  of  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners 
of  about  194.  The  losses  of  the  regiment  at  this  time  included  Lieutenants 
Davis  and  Breed,  who  were  killed,  and  Major  Cook,  then  commanding  the 
regiment,  who  received  a  very  severe  wound  in  the  foot,  disabling  him  from 
further  service  in  the  field. 

The  regiment  was  next  engaged  at  Gettysburg,  where,  as  a  part  of  Greene's 
Brigade,  it  performed  the  meritorious  service  of  holding  Gulp's  Hill  against 
the  attack  of  Johnson's  Division  on  the  night  of  the  2d,  and,  with  others,  in 
defending  the  position  on  the  3d  of  July,  1863. 

Its  losses  in  this  engagement  were  also  very  severe.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Randall,  commanding  the  regiment,  received  a  dangerous  wound  through  the 
shoulder  and  side.  At  this  place  the  flag  presented  to  the  regiment  by  the 
officers  of  the  Onondaga  Salt  Springs,  and  now  in  the  Clerk's  office  of  Onondaga 
County,  received  over  four  score  of  bullets  in  its  silken  folds,  and  its  staff, 
shot  in  twain,  was  mended  on  the  battlefield  with  splints  and  gun  straps 
by  Color  Bearer  William  C.  Lilly. 

In  October,  1863,  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps,  under  the  command  of 
General  Hooker,  were  transferred  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  and  joined  the  latter  command  near  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
just  in  time  for  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  to  participate  in  the  night 
battle  of  Wauhatchie,  October  28th,  which  virtually  raised  the  I  siege  of  Chat- 
tanooga, and  opened  the  celebrated  "  Cracker  Line,"  which  saved  Rosecrans' 
army  from  surrendering  that  valuable  position.  The  casualties  in  this  engage- 
ment were  not  heavy,  but  among  them  was  that  of  the  color  bearer,  William 
C.  Lilly,  who  received  a  mortal  wound,  from  which  he  died  a  few  days  after- 
wards. 

The  regiment  afterwards,  on  the  24th  of  November,  had  the  proud  honor  of 
taking  part  in  the  celebrated  charge  on  Lookout  Mountain,  where  it  met  with 
a  heavy  loss,  but  had  the  extreme  gratification  of  capturing  four  flags  from  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  102  i 

hands  of  the  enemy,  besides  capturing  a  number  of  prisoners,  far  exceeding  in 
number  those  then  present  for  duty  in  the  regiment.  The  next  day  the  One 
hundred  and  forty-ninth  took  part  in  the  charge  on  Missionary  Ridge,  which, 
although  not  attended  with  any  material  loss  to  it,  was  a  matter  of  just  pride 
to  the  regiment. 

Two  days  afterwards,  the  regiment,  as  a  part  of  the  Third  Brigade,  partici- 
pated in  the  very  trying  and  somewhat  sanguinary  battle  of  Ringgold. 

In  the  spring  of  1864  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps  were  reorganized  into 
what  is  known  as  the  new  Twentieth  Corps,  and  it  is  the  pride  of  the  Twelfth 
Corps  that  its  badge,  a  five-pointed  star,  was  adopted  as  the  insignia  of  the  new 
corps.  The  white  star  of  the  Second  Division  was  worn  by  the  One  hundred 
and  forty-ninth  during  its  entire  term  of  service,  both  in  the  Twelfth  and  Twen- 
tieth Corps,  and  is  now  a  cherished  memento  of  the  service. 

In  the  celebrated  Atlanta  campaign,  under  General  Sherman,  the  One  hun- 
dred and  forty-ninth  participated  in  several  engagements,  and  met  with  severe 
losses  at  Resaca,  New  Hope  Church,  Pine  Mountain,  Lost  Mountain,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  and  at  Peach  Tree  Creek.  For  more  than  three  months  it  was  never 
out  of  the  sound  of  firearms,  and  was  under  fire  almost  constantly.  At  the 
battle  of  Resaca,  it  was  the  proud  privilege  of  the  regiment  to  take  a  very  mate- 
rial part  in  the  capture  of  the  four  guns,  so  often  spoken  of  in  connection  wit!i 
that  engagement,  the  men  of  the  regiment  for  several  hours  being  so  close  to 
the  pieces  as  to  be  able  to  touch  them  with  their  muskets.  At  New  Hope 
Church  the  losses  were  very  heavy,  but  not  more  so  than  at  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
where  nearly  half  of  the  men  present  for  duty  were  shot  down  in  their  tracks. 
Among  the  killed  in  the  latter  engagement  were  Lieut.  Col.  Chas.  B.  Randall 
and  Capt.  David  J.  Lindsey. 

Soon  after  the  occupancy  of  Atlanta,  Colonel  Barnum,  commanding  the 
regiment,  assumed  command  of  the  brigade,  and  Captain  Grumbach,  promoted 
to  major,  assumed  command  of  the  regiment.  The  One  hundred  and  forty- 
ninth,  as  part  of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  participated  in  the  march  from  Atlanta 
to  the  Sea,  and  afterwards  in  the  still  more  wonderful  campaign  through  the 
Carolinas. 

In  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington  at  the  close  of  the  war,  there  was  no 
command  that  received  more  marked  attention  than  that  of  General  Sherman, 
and  it  was  the  proud  feeling  of  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  that  by  its 
meritorious  services  it  deserved  all  the  attention  bestowed  upon  it. 


1022  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

(INSCRIPTIONS.)* 


(Front.) 

150th 

NEW  YORK  INFANTRY 

2nd  brigade  (LOCKWOOD'S) 

1st  division 

13th  corps 

July  2  and  3,  1863. 

THE  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REG'T. 

This  regiment  defended 

these  works  on  July  3, 

FROM  6.30  TO  9  A.  M.,  and 

FROM   10  A.   M.,   TO    12   M.,   AND 

CAPTURED   200  PRISONERS. 

(Reverse.) 

Casualties. 

Killed. 

CoRP^L  John  Van  Alstyne,      Co.  A.   Private  Jedediah  Murphy,  Co.  E. 

Private  Charles  Howgate,     "    A.  "        B.  C.  Burnett,  "    G. 

Levi  Rust,  "    A.         "        Wm.  H.  Barnes,         "     I. 

John  P.  Wing,  "    A. 

Engagements. 
Gettysburg,  Sherman's 

Resaca,  Campaigns  of 

New  Hope  Church,  Georgia  and 

Kolb's  Farm,  The  Carolinas. 

Peach  Tree  Creek,  .  Savannah, 

Siege  of  Averasborough, 

Atlanta  Bentonville, 

8th  Corps.  12th  Corps.  20TH  Corps. 

(Right.) 

Mustered  in  October  ii,  1862. 

(Left.) 

This  regiment  was  recruited  to  1,277  men. 

Killed  in  battle;  officers,  2;  enlisted  men  44. 

Died  from  wounds  and  sickness  in  service, 

3  OFFICERS  and  59  MEN.      ToTAL  LOST  IN  SERVICE,   Io6. 

Transferred  to  6oth  New  York,  June  8,  1865,  176  men. 

Mustered  out  524  men  and  36  officers. 

Mustered  out  June  8,  1865. 

(Inscription  on  marker  near  the  Peach  Orchard.) 
150TH  New  York  Infantry  of  Lockwood's  Brigade,  ist  Division, 
I2TH  Corps,  charged  to  this  point  on  July  2,  1863,  about  8  P.  M. 
and  drew  off  three  abandoned  guns  of  Bigelow's  Battery. 

♦The  monument  has  —  in  addition  to  the  above  —  inscriptions  containing  the  list 
of  v/ounded  at  Gettysburg,  and  the  officers'  roster  at  the  muster  in  and  muster  out  of  the 
regiment. 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT. 


150th    new  YORK    INFANTRY. 
On  Gulp's  Hill. 


F.  J.  SEVERENCE,  PHOTO. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1023 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 
150th  regiment  INFANTRY,—  "  DUTCHESS  COUNTY  REGT." 

September  17,  1889. 

Address  by  Gen.  John  H.  Ketcham. 
Fellow  Soldiers  and  Friends: 

It  is  with  mingled  emotions  of  pleasure  and  sadness  that  I  welcome  you  to-day, 
and  invite  you  to  join  in  the  ceremonies  that  have  been  deemed  appropriate 
for  our  celebration,  and  which  I  find  ordered  upon  our  program. 

As  your  comrade,  rather  than  as  your  colonel  of  twenty-six  years  ago,  I 
ask  you  to  assist  in  commemorating  the  occasion  which  first  brought  us  to 
this  beautiful  spot.  In  those  days,  and  long  before  them  —  before  we  ever 
dreamed  of  war  as  a  possibility  in  our  favored  land  —  we  were  most  of  us  neigh- 
bors and  friends,  born  and  reared  in  one  of  the  finest  counties  in  our  great 
State,  on  the  banks  of  our  noble  Hudson.  When  the  summons  came  to  serve 
our  beloved  country,  we  started  as  one  man  —  animated  by  a  common  impulse 
of  devotion  to  duty,  with  a  common  ambition  to  do  our  very  best  to  make 
for  our  home  regiment  a  record  second  to  that  of  none  in  the  service.  Where 
all  were  noble  and  true  soldiers  —  every  inch  —  there  was  little  need  of  rule, 
and  little  thought  of  rank. 

How  well  you  succeeded  in  doing  your  duty  is  a  matter  of  history.  These 
ceremonies  to-day,  and  the  presence  of  these  kind  friends,  attest  that  your 
feelings  and  sacrifices  are  not  unappreciated  and  forgotten. 

I  think  we  have  no  cause  for  regret  in  recalling  that  memorable  struggle. 
To  every  one  now  present,  who  stood  by  me  during  those  fierce  July  days,  this 
peaceful  hour  must  bring  most  thrilling  and  sacred  memories.  You  must 
recall  every  scene,  every  incident,  every  hour,  almost  every  moment,  when 
■with  anxious  hearts  we  nerved  ourselves  for  death  or  victory,  and  prayed  for 
strength  to  do  our  duty  to  the  end.  It  requires  no  effort  to  picture  ourselves 
as  we  stood  facing  the  enemy  in  deadly  conflict  by  day,  or  rested  on  our  arms 
at  night,  snatching  such  sleep  as  we  might,  amid  the  crash  and  roar  of  cannon 
and  musketry,  expecting  momentarily  to  renew  the  contest. 

We  cherish  tenderly  and  proudly  the  memory  of  each  of  our  devoted  band 
who  fell  here.  History,  and  this  enduring  marble  will  tell  our  children's  children 
of  their  heroism  and  valor.  But  these  remnants  of  our  once  bright  and  beauti- 
ful colors  speak  to  us  loudly,  not  only  of  them  whom  we  are  met  to-day  to 
honor,  but  of  others  as  gallant  and  great  as  they,  who  afterwards  perished  on 
many  other  well-fought  fields.  We  think  of  them  reverently  and  affectionately — 
and  of  others  who  came  not  here  to-day,  who  have  one  after  another  fallen  by 
the  way,  whose  services  to  our  regiment  and  their  country  we  remember  with 
profoundest  gratitude.  Nor  do  we  forget  the  loved  ones  who  staid  at  home 
to  work  and  pray  for  us  —  the  wives,  and  mothers,  and  sisters  who  labored  in 
camp  and  hospital  unremittingly,  many  of  whom  have  gone  to  their  reward. 
And  of  all  who  helped  to  rear  this  beautiful  memorial  to  our  heroes   I  would 


I024  New  York  at  Gettysburg, 

make  grateful  mention.  I  will  not  detain  you  longer.  Others  will  tell  you  of 
the  patriotism  and  devotion  of  the  legions  with  whom  we  are  proud  to  be 
numbered,  who  here  on  this  holy  ground  turned  the  fortunes  of  our  dear  country 
from  disaster,  defeat  and  discouragement,  to  hope,  and  faith,  and  final  victory. 


TRANSFER  OF  MONUMENT. 
By  Gen.  Alfred  B.  Smith. 
Hon.  John  M.  Krauth,  of  the  Gettysburg  Memorial  Association: 

As  I  am  called  upon  to  present  this  monument  to  you,  it  is  proper  to  give  a 
brief  description  of  it. 

It  has  been  erected  by  the  surviving  members  of  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth 
Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  and  their  friends  in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
as  a  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  those  who  gave  their  lives  in  heroic 
defence  of  our  country  on  this  field  twenty-six  years  ago,  as  also  an  enduring 
memorial  of  the  valor  of  those  who  escaped  the  perils  of  war,  and  a  fitting  ex- 
pression of  the  patriotism  of  old  Dutchess  and  the  Empire  State.  It  is  com- 
posed of  thirteen  massive  stones,  emblems  of  national  birth,  unity  and  stability. 

Upon  the  front  panel  of  this  monument  our  artist  has,  with  rare  felicity, 
twined  the  laurel  wreath  over  the  oak-leaf  wreath  in  indestructible  bronze,  sym- 
bolizing the  crowning  of  the  citizen  soldier,  and  has  told  the  story  of  the  deeds 
of  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  Regiment  upon  this  field;  and  under  this  record 
has  formed  a  border  of  State  and  National  escutcheons,  deftly  hiding  the  em- 
blem of  the  Empire  State  behind  that  of  the  United  States,  to  teach  that 
supreme  loyalty  is  due  that  Nation. 

Beneath  the  laurel  and  the  palm  we  engrave,  on  the  reverse,  the  names  of 
those  heroic  men  who  fell  in  defence  of  the  Union,  and  those  who  were  wounded 
in  this  battle,  and  the  names  of  the  battles  in  which  their  comrades  were  after- 
wards engaged;  for  on  this  hallowed  ground  our  regiment  was  cemented  to- 
gether, tried  by  fire,  and  taught  to  stand  with  unfaltering  courage  and  fortitude. 

Here  we  stood  600  strong,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  riveted  to  these  rocks  by 
loyal  love  to  the  Union  and  the  government  of  our  fathers. 

So  the  massive  stones  of  this  monument,  reared  one  above  the  other,  are 
significantly  appropriate,  each  holding  the  other  in  place,  representing  a  tower 
of  invincible  strength. 

They  also  fitly  typify  the  unity,  love  and  mutual  respect  which  characterized 
officers  and  men  of  this  regiment. 

May  this  monument  endure  forever  as  a  symbol  of  that  fraternity,  inspiring 
courage,  loyalty  and  true  manhood,  which  are  the  life-blood  of  the  Republic 
and  its  only  warrant  for  existence. 

Below  we  have  our  title,  "  The  Dutchess  County  Regiment,"  a  name  we 
were  all  so  proud  of;  and  united  under  that,  discipline  was  easily  maintained. 
It  was  sometimes  applied  to  us  in  playfulness  by  our  gallant  Second  Massa- 
chusetts friends  as  a  nickname. 

Unlike  all  the  other  regiments  from  our  State,  this  was  a  county  regiment, 
the  formation  of  which  was  suggested  by  a  lady  now  with  us  (Mrs.  Benson  J. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1025 

Lossing).  The  ladies  of  the  county  gave  us  our  flags,  caused  the  banner  to  be 
beautifully  painted;  and,  after  carrying  them  through  storms  of  fire,  riddled  with 
bullets  and  both  shafts  shattered,  the  members  of  the  regiment  carried  them 
in  their  hearts  through  the  Confederacy,  with  Sherman  to  the  Sea,  from  Savan- 
nah to  Raleigh,  and  returned  them  to  the  ladies  from  whom  we  received  them. 

We  have  them  here  —  rent,  tattered,  battle-scarred  and  faded  —  on  the  spot 
where  they  stood  so  many  years  ago.  Who  shall  say  their  magic  power  does 
not  at  this  moment  summon  from  a  better  land  our  departed  comrades  to  re- 
joice with  us  in  the  grand  consummation  of  their  labors  here,  where  the  rocks 
burst  forth  from  Mother  Earth  to  tell  their  glory,  and  that  they  died  riot  in 
vain,  while  their  sacrifices  tell  the  story  of  "  Liberty  and  Union,  one  and  in- 
separable, now  and  forever,"  more  eloquently  than  the  words  of  Webster 
implied? 

The  seven  men  of  the  regiment  who  sanctified  this  ground  by  their  life-blood 
so  freely  poured  out,  wrought  more  mightily  than  they  dreamed  for  the  in- 
trepidity, discipline,  and  success  of  their  comrades. 

We  also  present  to  you,  carved  hereon,  the  roster  of  the  regiment  as  it  went 
forth  and  as  it  was  mustered  out;  also  the  number  of  men  who  survived;  the 
principal  battles  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged;  and,  bearing  aloft,  as 
this  memorial  shaft  does,  the  escutcheon  of  our  Empire  State,  the  flag  of  our 
brigade,  and  the  royal  star  of  the  Twelfth  and  Twentieth  Corps,  in  which  or- 
ganizations we  took  just  pride. 

It  has  been  very  appropriately  unveiled  by  the  daughter  of  our  beloved 
colond,  the  covering  being  the  first  camp  flag  that  was  raised  over  the  city 
of  Atlanta  after  Sherman  captured  that  city. 

This  day  is  opportune,  being  the  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Henry  Gridley  — 
the  noblest  Roman  of  us  all  —  the  first  officer  of  the  regiment  who  fell  in  battle; 
it  also  is  the  anniversary  of  a  regiment  most  intimately  connected  with,  and 
friendly  to  us  —  the  Thirteenth  New  Jersey;  it  also  commemorates  the  great 
battle  of  Antietam. 

We  commit  this  monument  to  your  loyal,  loving  care,  trusting  that  it,  with 
all  the  other  memorials  of  art  and  nature,  which  so  wonderfully  mark  this  battle- 
ground in  varied  forms  of  beauty,  may  tell  to  the  last  cycles  of  time  how  grandly 
a  Republic  could  terminate  the  direst  civil  war  the  world  has  ever  known,  by 
making  a  broken  country  one,  bringing  foes  together  as  friends,  exalting  the 
Nation  by  elevating  manhood,  inspiring  loyalty,  courage  and  fraternity,  and 
love  for  national  unity  and  liberty  under  the  old  flag,  all  through  the  ages,  until 
the  happy  day  shall  come  when  mankind  "shall  beat  their  swords  into  plow- 
shares, and  their  spears  into  pruning  hooks;  nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword 
against  nation,  neither  shall  they  learn  war  any  more."  , 

,65 


1026  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


RESPONSE  OF  HON.  JOHN  M.  KRAUTH,  OF  THE  BATTLEFIELD 
MEMORIAL  ASSOCIATION. 

General  Smith,  Members  of  the  Monument   Committee  of  the  One 

HUNDRED     AND     FIFTIETH     NeW     YoRK     VOLUNTEERS,     VETERANS     AND 

Friends  of  the  Regiment: 

The  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association  was  organized  shortly  after 
the  great  battle,  by  a  few  large-hearted,  patriotic  gentlemen,  for  the  express 
purpose  of  securing  by  gift  or  purchase,  and  holding  and  preserving  perpetually, 
such  portions  of  the  battlefield,  with  its  natural  and  artificial  defences,  as  were 
identified  with  the  engagement.  In  pursuance  of  power  granted  by  legislative 
enactment,  the  Association  has  secured  nearly  all  the  ground  occupied  by  the 
national  forces,  opened  avenues,  reconstructed  breastworks  and  defences,  and 
located  the  sites  and  received  in  its  charge  and  keeping  287  monuments.  The 
Association  has  a  watch-care  over  these  memorials,  and  is  responsible  for  their 
preservation;  it  hopes  soon  to  acquire  title  to  those  parts  of  the  field  not  now 
included  in  its  trust,  and  to  continue  to  locate  and  superintend  the  construction 
of  monuments  until  every  organization  engaged  in  the  decisive  battle  has  its 
position  marked  by,  and  its  record  inscribed  upon,  an  enduring  memorial. 

The  Association  welcomes  you  to  this  historic  spot.  The  great  Empire 
State,  from  which  you  came,  sent  more  men  into  the  field  and  into  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg,  and  lost  more  men  than  any  other  State.  It  is,  therefore,  fitting 
that  you  should  leave  your  homes  and  gather  here  for  the  purpose  of  dedicating 
this  noble  monument  to  brave,  patriotic  men.  And  this  is  no  unmeaning 
ceremony;  its  suggestive  power  and  influence  will  be  known  and  felt  long  after 
those  participating  in  it  have  passed  away. 

On  behalf  of,  and  in  the  name  of  the  Association,  this  monument  is  accepted 
as  a  sacred  trust;  and  I  assure  you  we  shall  faithfully  guard,  through  coming 
years,  your  memorial  to  the  living  as  well  as  the  dead. 


ORATION  BY  MAJ.  HENRY  A.  GILDERSLEEVE. 
Comrades  and  Friends: 

Battlefields  are  epochal  steps  in  the  grand  stairways  of  the  earth  constructed 
of  the  lives  of  men;  steps  by  which  altar  and  throne  have  often  been  estab- 
lished and  overturned ;  steps  that  have  led  to  the  destruction  of  existing  govern- 
ments and  the  birth  of  new. 

A  careful  study  of  the  history  of  the  world  shows  that  war  has  been  the  only 
final  arbiter  of  nations;  and  mankind,  even  under  the  benign  influences  of 
Christianity,  in  an  enlightened  age,  has  not  found  a  substitute  for  this  terrible 
tribunal.  Our  fathers,  renowned  for  wisdom  no  less  than  courage,  did  not  stop 
to  estimate  the  price  of  human  life  when  they  began  the  great  structure  of  our 
national  existence,  and  laid  in  blood  the  sure  foundations  of  liberty  and  justice 
on  which  it  rests.  We  should  have  proved  degenerate  and  unworthy  sons  had 
we  failed  to  follow  their  noble  example  when  secession  lifted  its  heretical  head, 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1027 

and  threatened  the  destruction  of  our  National  Government.  The  constitution 
of  the  United  States  of  America  was  ordained  and  established  "  in  order  to 
form  a  more  perfect  union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity,  provide 
for  the  common  defence,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings 
of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity." 

Under  it  the  States  and  Nation  had  prospered  and  grown  strong  as  few 
people  have  ever  prospered.  It  provided  a  system  which  continually  drew  for 
its  sustenance  and  growth  upon  the  virtue  and  vigor  of  the  people  —  an  inex- 
haustible source  where  a  people  remain  harmonious  and  united,  but  a  barren 
desert  in  a  Nation  composed  of  States  "  dissevered,  discordant  and  belligerent." 
Secession,  if  acquiesced  in,  made  our  Union,  after  all  it  had  cost  in  blood  and 
treasure,  a  weak  pile  of  blocks  that  could  at  any  time  be  toppled  over  at  the 
will  of  a  single  State.  All  that  was  won  upon  the  battlefields  of  the  Revolution 
was  at  stake  upon  the  issue  of  the  Civil  War;  and,  in  addition  thereto,  the 
emancipation  of  a  race.  Famous  among  men  will  always  be  the  founders 
of  our  government,  and  second  to  them  in  lustre,  shine  the  bravery  and 
fortitude  of  the  men  who  secured  the  permanence  of  their  noble  work. 

We  stand  to-day  on  ground  made  famous  by  the  defenders  of  the  Union. 
Here  was  fought,  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  the  most  important 
battle  of  our  great  Civil  War.  While  from  other  fields  may  be  gathered  as 
appalling  records  of  slaughter  by  contending  armies,  Gettysburg  was  the 
most  decisive  in  its  results,  and  in  history  it  will  be  the  most  conspicuous.  On 
the  escutcheon  of  nations,  written  with  the  blood  of  heroes,  France  has  its 
Austerlitz,  England  its  Waterloo,  and  the  United  States  its  Gettysburg. 

The  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  were 
of  the  troops  who  fought  and  won  that  battle  for  the  United  States.  It  was  a 
victory  that  insured  the  perpetuity  of  the  Federal  Union;  made  permanent  the 
establishment  of  republican  government  among  the  nations  of  the  earth; 
cast  ofl  the  fetters  from  3,000,000  bondmen,  and  abolished  slavery  in  America 
forever.  It  has  been  customary  throughout  all  time  to  fete  and  honor  soldiers 
of  every  country.  The  return  of  victorious  armies  to  Rome  was  the  occasion 
of  grand  displays  and  the  most  sumptuous  festivities.  The  earth's  surface 
is  dotted  all  over  with  monuments  erected  to  the  memory  of  distinguished 
soldiers  killed  in  battle,  and  few  indeed  are  the  exceptions  where  bravery  in 
war  has  not  been  recognized  and  some  effort  made  to  pay  a  suitable  tribute 
to  those  who  have  had  to  fight  the  battles  of  their  country.  In  ancient  Egypt, 
the  soldier  shared  with  the  priest  the  highest  consideration.  When  he  fell 
in  battle  he  was  at  once  transported  to  the  regions  of  ineffable  bliss  in  the 
bright  mansions  of  the  sun.  The  Christian  Crusader  was  not  only  raised  to  a 
contempt  of  danger,  but  coveted  it  for  the  imperishable  crown  of  martyrdom 
that  he  was  taught  to  believe  awaited  him  after  death.  The  victories  and 
battles  of  the  Revolution  that  made  our  republican  form  of  government  pos- 
sible, we  never  lose  an  opportunity  to  celebrate,  and  the  noble  deeds  of  the 
heroes  of  that  memorable  war  are  our  choicest  heritage,  and  the  subject  of 
constant  commemoration.  The  men  who  fell  upon  this  field  are  entitled  to  no 
less  grateful  remembrance  than  those  who  fell  at  Bunker  Hill  and  Valley  Forge. 
We  cannot  claim  originality  for  the  ceremony  we  now  celebrate,  but  when  we 


1028  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

look  about  us  and  are  reminded  of  the  brave  men  who  here  gave  up  their  lives, 
and  recall  the  causes  that  made  the  terrible  battle  necessary,  we  do  proudly 
claim  that  for  no  nobler  cause  did  patriots  ever  fight,  that  for  no  grander  country 
did  heroes  ever  die.  Yes,  and  thank  God,  they  died  for  the  whole  country, 
to-day  the  homes  of  60,000,000  freemen.  The  triumph  of  the  Union  armies 
on  this  field  was  a  victory  for  the  Constitution  and  the  Union,  and  took  no 
rights  away  from  the  South.  The  blessings  flowing  from  a  preserved  Union 
reach  all  the  States,  and  the  fountain  it  feeds  are  those  of  universal  liberty 
and  prosperity,  at  which  the  Confederate  soldier  is  as  welcome  to  come  and 
drink  as  the  Union  volunteer. 

The  State  of  New  York,  by  its  representatives  in  legislature  assembled,  in 
the  year  1887,  appropriated  the  sum  of  $1,500  to  each  New  York  regiment  that 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  to  be  expended  in  providing  a  suitable 
memorial  to  its  members  who  fell  in  that  battle.  The  survivors  of  the  One 
hundred  and  fiftieth  Regiment  and  its  friends,  principally  residents  of  Dutchess 
County,  contributed  and  added  to  the  $1,500  given  by  the  State,  about  the 
sum  of  $3,000,  and  the  manner  in  which  that  money  has  been  expended  by  the 
faithful  and  able  Monument  Committee,  of  which  General  Smith  is  chairman, 
is  evidenced  by  the  beautiful  monument  before  us  which  we  have  assembled  to- 
day to  unveil  and  dedicate. 

Let  us  for  a  few  moments  brush  up  our  memories  of  the  past;  recall  the 
organization  of  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  Regiment,  and  follow  it  to  these 
now  historic  hills  of  Pennsylvania,  where  it  became  a  part  of  the  famous  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  and  was  first  bathed  in  blood. 

At  the  end  of  June,  1862,  the  war  had  been  in  progress  about  fifteen  months, 
and  over  800,000  volunteers,  including  three  months'  men,  had  entered  the 
service  of  the  United  States.  The  actual  strength  of  the  Federal  army  on  duty 
at  this  time  was  about  500,000.  In  the  west  the  Union  forces  under  Grant, 
Buel  and  others  had  secured  very  creditable  results.  Shiloh,  Fort  Donelson, 
Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth  and  other  points  of  strategic  importance  had  been 
captured  by  the  Union  armies.  The  general  result  of  the  campaign  in  Virginia 
was  not  considered  to  reflect  much  credit  upon  the  Union  army,  and  in  con- 
sequence thereof  there  was  a  widespread  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  in  the  North. 
Lukewarm  Unionists  and  Southern  sympathizers  began  openly  to  proclaim 
their  faith  in,  and  announce  their  adherence  to,  the  Southern  cause.  This  un- 
armed enemy  in  the  midst  of  us,  too  cowardly  to  fight  in  the  open  field,  and 
without  an  excuse  for  their  treachery,  retarded  enlistments  at  home,  encouraged 
foreign  intervention,  and  in  every  way  possible  gave  aid  and  support  to  the 
Rebels.  I  can  forgive  the  Southern  Rebel  for  taking  up  arms  against  the 
Union,  grasp  him  warmly  by  the  hand  and  call  him  brother,  but  a  Northern 
copperhead  —  well,  God  may  have  mercy  upon  him,  but  I  cannot. 

On  Thursday,  June  26,  1862,  the  powerful  and  thoroughly  equipped  Army 
of  the  Potomac  was  intrenched  in  works  vast  in  extent  and  most  formidable 
in  character  within  sight  of  Richmond,  and  it  was  confidently  hoped  that  the 
battlecry  of  "  On  to  Richmond  "  would  soon  be  realized.  Within  a  few  days 
the  remnants  of  that  threatening  host  were  upon  the  James  River,  thirty  miles 
from  Richmond,  seeking  to  recover,  under  the  protection  of  their  gunboats, 
from  the  effects  of  a  series  of  disastrous  defeats.    This  routing  of  McGellan's 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


1029 


army  thoroughly  aroused  the  government  to  the  danger  in  which  the  country 
was  placed,  and  an  earnest  determination  was  manifested  to  provide  against 
its  consequences.  On  July  2,  1862,  the  President  of  the  United  States  issued 
a  proclamation  calling  for  300,000  men  to  serve  for  three  years,  or  during  the 
war.  In  answer  to  this  call  the  Dutchess  County  regiment  was  organized. 
The  prompt  response  of  the  State  of  New  York,  led  by  the  loyal  citizens  of 
Dutchess  County,  to  this  proclamation  of  the  President  in  those  dark  days 
of  the  Rebellion,  gave  an  impetus  to  enlistments  throughout  the  whole  loyal 
North,  and  under  the  call  431,958  volunteers  were  mustered  into  the  Federal 
army.  This  rush  to  the  standards  of  the  Union  was  the  strongest  evidence 
of  the  willingness  of  the  Northern  people  to  stand  by  the  government.  It  was 
conclusive  proof  of  their  unflinching  loyalty,  and  it  showed  a  fixed  determina- 
tion to  suppress  the  Rebellion  by  force  of  arms.  It  not  only  gave  great  ad- 
ditional strength,  but  a  morale  to  the  armies  already  in  the  field,  and  to  the 
men  in  high  station  upon  whom  rested  the  grave  responsibility  of  conducting 
the  war,  the  greatest  encouragement.  Prior  to  this,  large  numbers  of  Dutchess 
County  men  had  enlisted  in  the  Union  armies.  Some  marched  to  the  front 
with  the  Twentieth  New  York,  and  others  followed  the  colors  of  the  One 
hundred  and  twenty-eighth.  On  Thursday,  the  21st  day  of  August,  1862,  Mrs. 
Benson  J.  Lossing  caused  to  be  published  an  appeal  asking  for  a  Dutchess 
County  regiment.  Isaac  Piatt,  of  the  Poughkeepsie  Eagle,  indorsed  the  appeal 
by  favorable  comment,  and  during  that  day,  and  the  next,  eighteen  young  men 
handed  to  A.  B.  Smith,  of  Poughkeepsie,  as  one  of  the  resident  members  of  the 
General  War  Committee,  requests  to  recruit  and  enter  the  United  States  ser- 
vice in  a  Dutchess  County  regiment.  We  have  not  a  complete  list  of  the 
names  of  these  young  men.  Among  them  were  Cogswell,  McConnell,  Gilder- 
sleeve,  Titus,  Woodin,  Wickes,  Sweet,  Gridley,  Broas,  Cruger,  Underwood, 
Van  Steenburg,  Van  Keuren,  and  Tripp.  Gen.  A.  B.  Smith  drafted  a  resolution 
for  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Dutchess  county  and  it  was  offered  by  Henry 
W.  Shaw  (better  known  as  Josh  Billings),  who  was  at  that  time  a  member 
of  the  board,  and  passed  unanimously.  It  read  as  follows :  "  Resolved,  That 
the  County  of  Dutchess  will  pay  $50  bounty  to  each  man  who  will  enlist  in  a 
Dutchess  County  regiment,  and  the  Executive  War  Committee  of  the  county 
is  requested  to  procure  the  permission  from  Governor  Morgan  to  raise  such 
regiment,  with  camp  located  at  Poughkeepsie."  Provided  with  a  certified  copy 
of  this  resolution,  and  letters  of  introduction  from  Congressman  Baker  and 
Judge  Emott,  Mr.  Smith,  under  instructions  from  the  War  Committee,  went 
to  Albany  on  August  23d  to  make  application  to  Governor  Morgan  for  au- 
thority to  recruit  "  a  Dutchess  County  regiment,"  and  returned  with  the 
following  authorization,  viz.:  , 

"  To  Hon.  James  Emott,  Chairman  of  Executive  War  Committee  of  Dutchess 
County: 
"  Permission  is  granted  to  your  War  Committee  to  raise  a  Dutchess  County 
regiment,  with  camp  located  at  Poughkeepsie. 

"  EDWIN  D.  MORGAN, 

"  Governor." 
"  Hillhouse,  A.  A.  G." 


1030 


New  Yokk  at  Gettysburg. 


Previous  to  this,  Governor  Morgan  had  appointed  a  General  War  Committee 
for  the  congressional    district,  with  Wm.  Kelly,  of   Rhinebeck,  as  chairman- 
From  this    general    committee  an    Executive  War  Committee  was    chosen, 
consisting  of  James  Emott,  Wm.  Kelly,  Ambrose  Wager,  George  W.  Sterling, 
Benson  J.  Lossing,  James  H.  Weeks,  Stephen  Baker,  Joseph  F.  Barnard  and 
John  H.  Ketcham,  and  the  work  of  bringing  into  life,  form  and  discipline  the 
Dutchess  County  Regiment  was  entered  upon  in  earnest.     It  was  then  that  the 
home  pride  was  fully  aroused,  and  the  patriotism  of  the  citizens  of  Dutchess 
County  reached  its  climax.    Many,  who  from  the  first  breaking  out  of  the  war 
had  felt  inclined  to  enlist,  but  were  restrained  by  business  engagements  they 
could  not  well  forego,  or  by  home  ties  that  were  painful  to  sever,  had  frequently 
declared  that  when  a  Dutchess  County  regiment  was  organized  they  would 
join  it    That  day  had  come,  and  the  sons  of  Old  Dutchess,  true  to  their 
vows,  led  on  by  Ketcham,  rallied  around  the  American  flag,  eager  to  become 
members  of  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  New  York  Volunteers.    O,  the 
golden  memories  of  those  daysl    The  conflicts  between  love  of  country  and 
love    of    kindred;    private    business    interests    and    public    duty,    in    which 
patriotism  triumphed.    Sad  and  distressing  were  the  partings;  but,  comrades, 
your  courage  did  not  fail  you  in  the  hour  of  your  country's  peril.    Resolute 
and  brave,  though  tender  and  loving,  the  good-byes  were  said  with  moist  eyes 
and  aching  hearts.    What  act  of  your  life  would  you  not  now  sacrifice  to  give 
place  to  this?    Those  were  indeed  busy,  anxious,  exciting  days.     Do  you 
recall  the  duties  of  the  recruiting  officers?      How  the  constant  explanations 
necessary  to  young  men  contemplating  enlistment  occupied  the  days  at  the 
several  recruiting  oflSces,  and  war  meetings  in  different  parts  of  the  country 
filled  in  the  nights.    Our  headquarters  were  at  Poughkeepsie.    Four  and  six 
horse  teams,  carrying  young  and  enthusiastic  men  who  had  already  enlisted, 
drove  to  different  parts  of  the  country,  with  banners  flying  and  bands  playing, 
to  attend  war  meetings  and  secure  enlistments.    There  was  scarcely  a  place 
in  the  county,  sufficiently  large  to  support  a  post-office,  that  did  not  have  its 
one  or  more  war  meetings  each  week.    Washington  Hollow,  Stanfordville, 
Bangall,  Pine  Plains,  Dover,  Pawling,  Amenia,  Hyde  Park,  Rhinebeck,  Red 
Hook,  Schultzville,  and  many  other  places,  were  the  scenes  of  enthusiastic 
gatherings  at  which  the  bands  played  patriotic  airs,  and  from  barrels,  stoops, 
wagons  and  horse-blocks  the  assembled  crowds  were  harangued  with  war 
speeches  until  the  excitement  ran  high  and  many  names  were  added  to  the  en- 
listment-roll.   From  the  sheriff's  office  in  the  courthouse  in  the  city  of  Pough- 
keepsie, which  was  turned  into  a  recruiting  office,  was  displayed  a  banner  bear- 
ing these  words :  "  Come  in  out  of  the  draft"  Their  significance  was  apparent, 
and  caused  no  little  amusing  comment.    To  the  indifferent  they  were  a  gentle 
reminder  of  what  might  be  expected  if  a  sufficient  number  of  volunteers  were 
not  promptly  forthcoming;  and  to  those  anxious  to  enlist,  who  were  restrained 
by  relatives  and  friends,  they  furnished  a  powerful  argument  in  favor  of  consent. 
The  threatened  drafts  and  liberal  bounties  undoubtedly  brought  some  men 
into  service,  but  pure  patriotism  was  generally  the  sole  moving  power.    And 
especially  was  this  true  of  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  Regiment,  composed 
as  it  largely  was  of  intelligent  and  thoughtful  men.    They  hastened  to  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1031 

defence  of  their  country  with  a  spontaneous  impulse,  born  of  a  correct  knowl- 
edge of  the  true  nature  of  the  cause  for  which  they  were  to  suffer  fatigue, 
exposure,  hunger,  thirst,  and  the  perils  of  battle, —  believing  that  their  coimtry's 
cause  was  their  personal  cause,  and  that  the  success  of  the  Union  arms  was  a 
victory  for  their  individual  principles. 

The  Union  volunteers  were  not  mere  machines,  enrolled,  disciplined  and 
ranged  in  living  palisades  before  the  enemy,  but  they  were  men  with  ideas, 
who  could,  when  occasion  required,  think  and  act  for  themselves. 

The  work  of  recruiting  went  briskly  on.  As  soon  as  eighty  were  enrolled 
by  any  one  recruiting  officer  he  went  to  Albany  and  received  his  commission 
as  captain,  and  also  commissions  for  a  first  and  second  lieutenant.  The  cap- 
tains took  rank  according  to  the  date  of  their  commissions,  and  the  compan'-^i 
received  their  alphabetical  designation  commencing  with  "  A  "  in  the  order  in 
which  their  respective  captains  were  commissioned-  On  the  nth  day  of 
October,  1862,  at  Camp,  Dutchess,  just  putside  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  the 
regiment  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States.  It  was  then  we 
felt  we  were  real  soldiers,  and  for  the  first  time  fully  realized  the,  importance 
of  the  step  we  had  taken,  and  imperfectly  outlined  in  our  imaginations  the  life 
that  was  before  us. 

On  October  13th  we  arrived  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  we  remained 
on  guard  duty  until  the  following  June,  with  excellent  opportunities  for  drill 
and  instruction  in  the  duties  of  a  soldier.  Once  during  this  period,  on  the  9th 
of  December,  we  were  ordered  out  to  check  an  unexpected  Rebel  raid,  and 
proceeded  by  cars  to  Adamstown  near  Monocacy  Junction.  We  were  not 
permitted  the  satisfaction  of  meeting  the  enemy,  and  returned  to  Baltimore  with 
virgin  swords.  The  only  blood  shed  on  that  cold  campaign,  for  the  ther- 
mometer was  at  about  zero,  was  from  two  opossums  captured  by  some  men 
on  picket  duty. 

The  battle  of  Qiancellorsville  had  been  fought  and  lost  Ewell  had  taken  up 
his  march  down  the  Shenandoah  Valley;  Milroy  had  been  defeated  at  Win- 
chester, and  the  triumphant  Rebel  army,  led  by  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee,  the  fore- 
most military  officer  of  the  Confederacy,  was  marching  into  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, when,  on  the  25th  day  of  June,  the  Dutchess  County  Regiment  moved 
with  the  :^irst  Maryland  Potomac  Home  Brigade,  General  Lockwood  in  com- 
mand, to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  We  had  become  tired  of  garrison  life 
in  Baltimore,  and  hailed  with  delight  the  orders  that  sent  us  to  the  field. 
Thoroughly  drilled  and  disciplined,  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  with  full 
ranks,  in  bright  uniforms,  with  unsoiled  colors,  and  to  the  strains  of  martial 
music  moved  out  of  Camp  Belger,  and  turned  their  faces  towards  the  enemy. 
For  two  days  our  line  of  march  could  be  easily  followed  by  the  surplus  clothing, 
camp  and  garrison  equipage  dropped  by  the  way  and  abandoned.  The  most 
intense  excitement  and  alarm  prevailed  throughout  the  North,  and  the  au- 
thorities at  Washington  were  filled  with  fear  and  consternation.  It  seemed 
a  question  of  a  few  days  only  when  the  Rebel  host  would  be  sacking  the  cities 
of  the  North,  levying  contributions  upon  its  citizens,  and  demanding  entrance 
to  the  capital  of  the  Nation.  All  the  horrors  of  civil  war  were  at  the  doors 
of  the  men  who  were  defending  the  Union.    The  timid  were  disheartened 


1032 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


and  discouraged,  but  the  strong,  with  full  reliance  upon  the  justice  of  our  cause 
and  the  valor  of  our  soldiers,  nerved  themselves  for  the  impending  struggle, 
determined  to  beat  back  the  invaders.  The  fate  of  the  Nation  rested  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  then  under  the  command  of  a  noble  son  of  Penn- 
sylvania, Gen.  George  G.  Meade.  Our  regiment  reached  Monocacy  Bridge, 
.  near  Frederick  City,  on  June  27th,  and  with  Lockwood's  Brigade  was  attached 
'  to  the  First  Division  of  the  Twelfth  Corps,  which  division  at  that  time  was 
commanded  by  Gen.  Alpheus  S.  Williams,  the  corps  being  commanded  by  a 
distinguished  soldier  from  our  own  state,  Gen.  Henry  W.  Slocum.  Do  you 
remember  our  camp  on  the  hill  near  Monocacy  Bridge,  from  which  point  we 
first  saw  a  portion  of  that  great  Army  of  the  Potomac  of  which  we  had  read 
so  much?  For  the  first  time  we  saw  them  bivouac,  and  listened  to  the  music 
from  their  brigade  bands  as  it  pealed  forth  upon  the  air  on  that  still  and  solemn 
night.  What  a  spectacle  for  a  recruit  to  look  upon.  We  were  amazed  at  the 
length  of  the  wagon  trains  and  batteries  of  artillery  as  they  filed  into  the  valley 
below  us  and  went  into  park  for  the  night.  Thousands  of  camp  fires  lighted 
up  the  region  around,  and  we  stood  spell-bound  at  the  sight  of  the  vast  enginery 
of  war  that  was  before  us.  It  was  in  this  camp,  inspired  by  this  spectacle^ 
we  first  imbibed  the  true  spirit  of  war,  and  nerved  ourselves  for  the  trying 
scenes  we  knew  we  must  encounter,  and  desperate  deeds  which  were  before  us. 
Our  cavalry  under  General  Buford  had  occupied  the  vicinity  of  Gettysburg, 
and  the  First  and  Eleventh  Corps  were  thrown  forward  to  join  the  cavalry. 
The  situation  indicated  to  General  Meade  that  it  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Gettys- 
burg that  the  Confederate  commander  had  decided  to  concentrate  his  forces. 
The  First  Corps  passed  through  Gettysburg  to  Willoughby  Run,  just  beyond 
Seminary  Ridge,  where  they  came  up  with  Buford's  Cavalry,  and  found 
them  hotly  engaged  with  the  advanced  forces  of  the  Rebel  column.  Here  a 
sanguinary  conflict  ensued  in  which  the  First  Corps  and  a  part  of  the  Eleventh, 
together  with  Buford's  Cavalry,  participated.  It  lasted  from  9  o'clock  in  the 
morning  until  late  in  the  afternoon.  Gen.  John  F.  Reynolds,  the  brave  and 
able  commander  of  the  First  Corps,  was-  killed  in  this  fight.  The  first  noise 
of  real  battle  that  came  to  our  ears  was  the  boom  of  the  distant  cannon  as  we 
passed  on  towards  the  baftlefield.  We  did  not  get  in  sight  of  the  contending 
forces  that  day.  Going  into  camp  at  a  late  hour  we,  for  the  first  time,  slept  on 
our  arms.  It  was  not  daylight  when  we  were  in  line  again  and  ready  to  resume 
the  march.  Do  you  remember  the  voice  of  Colonel  Maulsby,  who  commanded 
the  First  Maryland  Regiment  that  had  gone  into  camp  adjoining  us,  as  on 
that  morning  he  told  his  men  of  the  perils  that  were  before  them,  and  in 
patriotic  words  encouraged  them  to  bravely  do  their  duty?  We  had  no  speech 
from  our  regimental  commander.  It  was  not  his  custom  to  harangue  us  with 
loud-sounding  phrases,  but  he  passed  quietly  down  the  line  and  whispered  in 
our  ears  valuable  instruction  and  sound  advice.  We  moved  on  in  the  direction 
from  whence  we  heard  cannonading  on  the  day  previous,  and  the  first  un- 
mistakable indications  we  discovered  of  a  battle  were  the  slightly  wounded 
who  were  able  to  get  back  to  the  hospitals  without  assistance.  Then  we  be- 
gan to  encounter  ambulances  loaded  with  those  who  had  been  seriously 
wounded.    Field  hospitals  were  passed;  we  could  hear  the  rattle  of  musketry 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1033 

and  see  the  smoke  of  the  conflict  near  at  hand,  and  we  soon  found  ourselves 
a  part  and  parcel  of  the  grand  Army  of  the  North,  fighting  among  these  hills, 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  The  first  missiles  of  war  we  saw  were  shells  from 
some  Rebel  batteries  passing  over  our  heads,  entirely  too  close  to  be  com- 
fortable, and  bursting  just  beyond  our  lines.  We  were  resting  on  our  arms 
v;hen  we  first  heard  the  shriek  of  these  flying  projectiles,  to  us  a  new,  ominous 
and  peculiar  sound.  We  turned  our  heads  one  side,  with  eyes  upward,  trying 
to,  see  them  as  they  passed,,  much  as  a  flock  of  turkeys  will  do  to  catch  sight 
of  a  hawk.  The  novelty  soon  wore  off,  but  we  never  forgot  the  identity  of  the 
sound,  and  ever  after  it  was  readily  distinguished. 

On  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  July  2d,  we  were  hurriedly  moved  to  the 
left  to  reinforce  the  gallant  soldier,  General  Sickles.  As  we  passed  a  farmhouse 
on  our  Hne  of  march  we  were  told  that  he  was  inside  just  undergoing  the  opera- 
tion of  having  his  leg  amputated.  By  this  time  the  killed  and  wounded  were 
around  us  on  every  side.  The  rapidity  of  our  movement  clearly  indicated 
that  a  sudden  emergency  had  called  us  to  that  particular  portion  of  the  field, 
and  the  scene  before  us  presented  all  the  evidence  of  disaster  to  the  Federal 
line  of  battle.  With  our  full  ranks,  bright  colors  and  clean  uniforms,  we  were 
readily  distinguished  from  the  veteran  regiments  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
who  had  shared  its  fate  in  manoeuvres  and  battles  from  the  time  of  the  fight 
■  at  Bull  Run  to  that  day.  All  seemed  to  know  who  we  were.  Can  you  ever 
forget  the  almost  fiendish  shouts  of  maimed  and  dying  men  who  had  just 
fallen  in  the  struggle,  as  they  cried  out:  "Go  in,  Dutchess  County!  Give  it 
to  them,  boys !    Give  it  to  them !  " 

Marching  in  column,  four  abreast,  we  soon  swung  by  the  right  into  line, 
and,  for  the  first  time,  were  in  line  of  battle  facing  the  enemy.  The  fight  at 
this  point  had  been  so  severe  and  deadly  that  but  few  troops  remained  on  either 
side.  The  lines  were  broken  and  scattered.  Such  Rebel  forces  as  were  at 
this  point  must  have  fallen  back  on  the  approach  of  reinforcements,  for  we  did 
not  come  up  with  them.  We  recaptured  three  cannon,  but  were  not  called 
upon  to  fire  a  gun.  The  artillery  fire,  however,  was  constant  and  terrific.  After 
dark  that  night  we  were  marched  from  that  portion  of  the  field,  and  you  re- 
member how  difficult  it  was  to  escape  treading  on  the  dead  and  dying.  The 
cries  of  the  wounded  for  water,  which  we  could  rarely  give,  constantly  fell  upon 
our  ears.  We  heard  no  complaints,  however,  and  each  dying  soldier  accepted 
his  dreadful  fate  without  a  murmur.  No  sadder  spectacle  was  witnessed  than 
that  of  a  beautiful  horse,  hobbling  about  on  three  legs,  having  had  one  leg 
severed  from  his  body  by  a  cannon  ball.  The  service  he  rendered  will  never 
be  known.  Of  the  thousands  of  dumb  brutes  that  toiled,  suffered  and  died 
in  the  war,  but  one  is  immortalized,  and  he  is  the  horse  that  won  the  day 
by  carrying  Sheridan  from  Winchester  to  the  battlefield. 

The  following  day,  July  3d,  we  had  our  full  part  of  the  fighting.  We  were 
called  upon  to  repel  the  furious  attack  of  General  Ewell,  which  we  successfully 
accomplished  here  on  Gulp's  Hill.  From  this  point  we  were  ordered  to  Cem- 
etery Hill  to  reinforce  the  lines  upon  which  the  Rebel  General  Pickett  made  one 
of  the  most  desperate  and  famous  assaults  of  the  war.  While  marching  rapidly 
towards  the  hill  we  noticed  a  lull  in  the  rattle  of  musketry  —  a  softening  of  the 


1034  New  York  at  Gettysburg, 

din  of  battle,  and  then,  through  the  smoke  and  above  the  noise  of  the  con- 
flict, came  a  vohime  of  cheers  from  the  Union  troops  that  proved  to  be  the 
glad  cry  of  victory  for  the  Nortli.  We  received  orders  to  halt,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  long  columns  of  Confederate  prisoners  were  seen  coming  over  the  hill. 

Our  regiment  captured  that  day  about  200  prisoners.  Many  members  of 
the  regiment  fired  more  than  200  rounds  of  ammunition  each.  Our  colors 
were  riddled  with  bullets,  and  we  lost  48  men  in  killed  and  wounded.  Their 
names  are  upon  the  monument. 

I  shall  not  undertake  to  describe  the  details  of  the  battle,  nor  can  I  even 
refer  to  many  instances  of  our  own  experience.  We  witnessed  all  the  horrors  of 
the  war,  and  found  the  realization  more  terrible  than  the  anticipation.  Before 
the  sun  went  down  that  day  the  great  battle  was  ended.  Every  attack  had  been 
repulsed.  The  invasion  of  the  North  had  failed  and  the  tide  of  success  for  the 
Union  arms  had  set  in,  never  again  to  be  checked.  The  victory  of  Gettys- 
burg was  a  glorious  gift  to  the  Nation  on  the  anniversary  of  American  In- 
dependence, 1863.  It  was  a  dear  victory,  but  it  was  worth  the  price.  The 
aggregate  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  in  this  battle  was  nearly  50,000 
officers  and  men,  almost  one-third  of  the  total  strength  of  both  armies,  in- 
dicating most  fearful  slaughter  on  all  parts  of  the  field.  It  is  said  that  soine 
of  the  First  Corps  men,  when  they  entered  the  field  on  the  first  day  of  the 
battle,  cried  out  to  their  comrades:  "We  have  come  to  stay."  Alas,  how  true 
the  declaration  the  graves  of  thousands  here  testify! 

We  cannot  stop  to  review  the  subsequent  marches,  battles  and  encampments 
of  the  Dutchess  County  Regiment.  There  was  never  a  blemish  on  its  record ; 
it  did  its  whole  duty  and  was  never  in  a  losing  fight.  Nearly  all  of  its 
members  were  from  Dutchess  County,  and  it  was  composed  of  many  who  were 
relatives,  friends  and  acquaintances.  It  was  probably  nearer  an  harmonious 
family  in  its  composition  and  feeUng  than  any  regiment  in  the  service.  There 
were  no  jealousies,  no  selfish  rivalries.  Colonel  Ketcham's  coolness  in  times 
of  danger,  and  thorough  knowledge  of  his  duty,  saved  the  regiment  many  lives. 
His  energy,  perseverance  and  tact  secured  for  his  men  at  all  times  their  full 
share  of  supplies.  If  there  were  only  enough  shoes  for  a  portion  of  the  com- 
mand to  which  we  were  attached,  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  was  not  the 
organization  to  go  bare-footed;  if  rations  were  to  be  had  Colonel  Ketcham 
secured  them  for  the  Dutchess  County  Regiment.  After  the  capture  of  At- 
lanta, in  the  autumn  of  1864,  Colonel  Ketcham  was  granted  leave  of  absence, 
and  was  enabled  to  take  part  in  the  great  political  conflict  that  was  then  raging 
at  the  North.  He  was  elected  to  Congress,  and  rejoined  us  in  front  of 
Savannah,  the  objective  point  of  Sherman's  famous  March  to  the  Sea,  before 
its  surrender.  Here  he  received  serious  wounds  that  prevented  him  from  doing 
further  military  duty.  Colonel  Ketcham  always  had  the  entire  confidence  of  his 
command,  and  was  loved  by  every  soldier  in  the  regiment.  His  parting  with 
the  regiment  was  a  scene  never  to  be  forgotten.  In  his  address  at  this  time, 
among  other  things,  he  said :  "  I  should  like  very  much  to  march  with  you 
through  South  Carolina,  which,  as  it  has  been  the  birthplace  of  treason,  seems 
now  most  fitly  to  become  its  grave.  The  thought  of  separation  from  you  and 
of  leaving  the  service  of  my  country,  while  she  has  need  of  a  defender,  fills 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


1035 


me  with  sadness.  If  I  should  not  return,  if  to-day  shall  sever  my  relations 
with  you  in  a  military  capacity,  be  assured  that  day  will  never  come  which 
will  sever  the  ties  of  friendship  and  affection  which  bind  me  to  you."  Colonel 
Ketcham  has  faithfully  kept  his  word.  He  has  been  a  member  of  Congress 
ever  since  his  first  election,  with  the  exception  of  one  term;  and,  no  matter 
how  hard  pressed  for  time,  by  pubhc  or  private  duties,  no  member  of  the  One 
hundred  and  fiftieth  was  ever  refused  an  audience  by  him,  and  not  one  ever 
wrote  him  a  letter  and  failed  to  receive  a  prompt  and  kind  reply.  As  our  com- 
mander he  won  our  highest  respect  and  warmest  love.  We  greet  him  on 
this  memorial  day  with  a  renewal  of  our  affection  and  esteem,  and  pray  that  he 
may  live  to  enjoy  many  more  years  of  health,  prosperity  and  happiness.  I 
might  stop  to  recount  incidents  of  personal  heroism,  and  bestow  praise  upon 
individuals  who  seemed  especially  deserving,  but  where  all  were  so  faithful  to 
duty  it  would  be  difficult  to  distinguish.  One  incident,  however,  is  so  con- 
spicuous for  heroism  and  Christian  fortitude  that  I  must  stop  to  narrate  it. 
Henry  L.  Stone,  of  New  York  City,  having  originally  enlisted  in  the  One 
hundred  and  forty-fifth  New  York,  was  assigned  to  our  regiment  in  January, 
1864.  While  engaged  in  constructing  breastworks  in  front  of  Pine  Knob,  Ga., 
a  ragged  piece  of  bursted  shell  tore  out  his  bowels.  The  lacerated  fragments 
were  gathered  together,  and  he  was  borne  by  his  comrades  a  short  distance  to 
the  rear  to  die.  He  said,  "  Major,  will  you  call  the  colonel?  "  Major  Smith 
called  Colonel  Ketcham  to  the  dying  soldier's  side.  Stone  said,  "  Colonel,  have 
I  been  a  good  soldier?  "  The  colonel  repHed,  "  Yes,  Henry,  you  have  done 
your  duty."  Stone  answered,  "  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  that;  tell  my  mother 
how  I  did  my  duty.  Form  around  me,  my  comrades  of  Company  A."  They 
assembled  around  him,  when  this  dying  patriot  said,  "  My  work  is  done.  Stand 
by  that  old  flag;  I  gave  my  life  for  it,  and  I  am  glad  to  do  it.  Boys,  stand  by 
that  flag."  And  with  these  words  his  spirit  was  hushed  in  that  sweet  repose 
from  which  there  is  no  awakening. 

Another  incident  that  brought  deep  sorrow  to  us  all  was  the  death  of  Lieut. 
David  B.  Sleight,  whp  was  killed  while  leading  his  company  in  almost  the  last 
battle  of  the  war.  No  officer  of  the  regiment  was  more  highly  esteemed,  and 
having  so  many  times  escaped  the  Rebel  bullet  it  was  hard  to  be  stricken  down 
when  the  final  victory  was  so  near  at  hand. 

We  must  not  allow  this  opportunity  to  pass  without  a  grateful  allusion  to  the 
patriotic  women  of  Dutchess  County  who  did  so  much  to  assist  in  recruiting 
the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  Regiment,  and  properly  equipping  it  for  service 
in  the  field.  You  recollect  their  kind  hospitality,  their  thoughtful  charities,  the 
luxuries  for  camp  and  hospital,  with  which,  by  them,  we  were  so  generously 
supplied.  They  buckled  on  our  swords,  presented  our  colors,  and  sent  us  to 
the  front  with  words  of  encouragement  that  inspired  us  with  hope  and  valor. 

Upon  our  return  to  Dutchess  County  they  were  the  first  to  welcome  us. 
They  spread  a  banquet  for  our  entertainment,  and  by  what  they  said  and  what 
they  did  enabled  us  to  forget  the  pains,  sufferings  and  sorrows  of  the  war,  and 
see  only  its  glories.  No  regiment  in  the  service  had  kinder  friends  at  home  who 
were  ever  mindful  of  its  needs.  When  the  time  came  to  erect  some  suitable 
memorial  to  those  who  were  killed  on  the  field,  they  again  came  nobly  to  our 


1036  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

assistance,  and  contributed  liberally  towards  the  funds  necessary  to  build  the 
monument  we  now  unveil. 

We  dedicate  this  monument  to  the  memory  of  soldiers  who  died  that  a 
Christian  Nation  might  be  perpetuated,  soldiers  with  ideas  unswervable  con- 
cerning the  dearest  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  soldiers  who  long 
to  see  one  flag  floating  over  a  people,  one  in  civilization,  one  in  national  policy, 
one  in  every  enterprise  for  the  furthering  of  universal  freedom  and  the  happi- 
ness of  mankind.  Like  the  prophet  of  old,  they  "  died  without  the  sight."  But, 
thanks  to  them  and  their  heroic  comrades,  that  flag  does  float  over  a  people,  one 
in  civilization,  one  in  national  policy,  and  one  in  every  beneficial  enterprise,  and 
will  so  float  as  long  as  time  endures. 

We  dedicate  this  monument  to  the  memory  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Dutchess 
County  Regiment  who  were  killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg;  men  who,  when 
their  country  called  for  soldiers,  volunteered  to  fight  her  battles;  brave  patriots 
who  willingly  gave  up  their  lives  to  prove  to  the  nations  of  the  earth  the  suc- 
cess of  the  republican  form  of  government;  men  who  died  to  free  an  enslaved 
people. 

We  dedicate  this  monument  to  the  memory  of  American  soldiers  who,  with 
their  life's  blood,  wrote  a  law  on  the  statute  book  of  the  United  States,  declaring 
that  "  he  who  bears  arms  in  a  war  having  for  its  object  the  dissolution  of  the 
Union  is  guilty  of  treason."  Alas,  that  the  mortal  remains  of  Gridley,  Marshall, 
Welling,  Sleight,  Sweet,  Stone,  Odell,  Lovelace,  Palmeteer,  Story,  and  others 
of  the  regiment  who  were  sacrificed  upon  their  country's  altar,  cannot  rest  be- 
neath this  mass  of  granite,  so  well  calculated  to  withstand  the  ravages  of  time, 
and  thus  have  their  burial  places  and  their  names  perpetuated  throughout  the 
ages  to  come.  The  love  of  kinsmen  and  the  loyalty  of  afifectionate  comrades 
and  friends  have  done  for  them,  as  we  have  here  to-day  for  those  who  sleep 
beneath  this  monument,  all  that  human  hands  can  do  to  fittingly  mark  their 
graves  and  keep  their  memories  green.  There  is  no  difference  in  degree;  time 
will  place  all  upon  a  common  level.  What  are  these  monuments  to  which  we 
point  with  pride?  Some  day  they  must  crumble  into  dust.  No  matter  how 
high  and  strong  we  build  the  fortresses  of  stone  over  and  around  the  martyred 
head  —  we  might  build  their  granite  bases  as  broad  as  the  pyramids  and  make 
their  shafts  touch  heaven,  yet  would  there  be  higher  monuments  and  stronger 
fortresses  built  of  the  hearts  of  loyal  Americans. 


ADDRESS  BY  BENSON  J,  LOSSING,  LL.  D. 

Mr.  Chairman,  Veterans,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : 

I  have  been  requested  to  say  a  few  words  on  this  august  occasion.  They 
should  be  very  few  indeed,  for  the  wise  and  eloquent  sentences  just  uttered  by 
your  beloved  comrade  and  distinguished  fellow  citizen.  Judge  Gildersleeve,  need 
no  supplement.    My  words  will  be  chiefly  reminiscential. 

Sallust  says,  "  I  have  often  heard  that  Quintus  Maximus,  Publius  Scipio, 
and  other  renowned  persons  of  the  Commonwealth  used  to  say,  that  whenever 


New  York  at  GExxYSBURa  1037 

tfiey  beheld  the  images  of  their  ancestors,  they  felt  their  minds  vehemently 
excited  to  virtue." 

Such  is,  or  ought  to  be,  the  effect  produced  in  our  minds  by  the  sight  of  this 
tattered  ensign  —  this  symbol  of  the  patriotism,  the  virtue,  the  heroism  and  the 
achievements  of  our  fellow  citizens  who  carried  it  to  the  battlefield,  followed 
it  as  their  oriflamme  through  the  fierce  tempest  of  war,  and  brought  it  back  sadly 
disfigured  —  no,  glorified  —  by  scars  which  attest  the  bravery,  the  fortitude,  and 
the  fidelity  of  the  noble  men  who  so  honored  it.  What  American  can  look  upon 
such  a  flag  with  such  a  touching  record,  anywhere,  and  especially  they  whose 
fathers,  husbands,  sons  and  brothers  who  had  borne  it  aloft  for  almost  three 
years  and  came  home  with  it  in  triumph,  without  being  vehemently  stirred  by 
patriotic  emotions? 

I  remember  with  what  deep  interest  we  watched  the  growth  of  that  flag,  chiefly 
under  the  fostering  care  of  the  women  of  Poughkeepsie;  and  I  remember  how 
carefully  it  was  painted  by  an  artist  then  residing  in  Poughkeepsie;  and  how 
tenderly  and  proudly  it  was  cherished  by  its  custodians  until  the  supreme  mo- 
ment of  its  presentation  to  the  regiment. 

I  well  remember  the  bright  October  day,  twenty-seven  years  ago,  when,  at 
"  Camp  Dutchess,"  on  the  border  of  Winnikee,  that  flag  was  first  unfurled  to 
the  breezes  of  heaven  and  was  presented  to  the  regiment,  in  behalf  of  the  women 
of  Dutchess  County  (who  had  furnished  it),  by  the  late  Judge  Emott,  in  a 
stirring  speech.  It  was  then  bright,  unsullied  and  beautiful.  Nearly  three 
years  later  the  same  hand  received  it  back  again  with  glowing  words  of  grati- 
tude. It  was  then  scarred  by  honorable  wounds,  as  we  now  see  it.  It  is  more 
precious  to-day  than  ever. 

The  regiment  departed  —  dismissed  with  fervent  prayers  from  trembling  lips. 
I  soon  afterwards  followed  the  beautiful  flag  to  the  training  camp,  Belger,  at 
Baltimore. 

And  I  well  remember  passing  a  very  stormy  night  in  that  camp,  enjoying 
the  hospitality  of  our  good  friend  General  Smith,  who  was  then  the  enthusiastic, 
gallant  young  major  of  the  regiment.  I  remember  the  pride  and  pleasure  I  felt 
on  being  told  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bartlett,  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  that 
Colonel  Ketcham,  a  civilian,  had  so  thoroughly  learned  the  tactics  that  he  then 
handled  the  regiment  with  the  skill  of  a  "  regular  "  veteran. 

We,  at  home,  watched  the  movements  of  our  pet  regiment  with  keenest  in- 
terest. At  length  it  became  a  part  of  the  host  that  was  opposing  Lee's  invasion 
of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania.  The  thunders  of  battle  were  heard  simul- 
taneously at  Gettysburg  and  at  Vicksburg  at  the  beginning  of  July;  and  almost 
simultaneously  the  "  swift  coursers  of  the  sun  "  brought  intelligence  of  victory 
by  the  national  forces  at  each  point. 

We  did  not  know  it  then,  but  we  do  now,  that  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was 
the  pivotal  event  in  the  war,  which  determined  the  destiny  of  our  beloved 
country.  Eleven  years  before  that  battle.  Professor  Creasy  had  published  his 
famous  "  Fifteen  Decisive  Battles  of  the  World,  from  Marathon  to  Waterloo." 
To  that  record  a  sixteenth  should  be  added  —  Gettysburg  —  for  it  was  more 
decisive  —  solved  a  greater,  a  more  momentous  problem  in  human  history  than 
any  battle  ever  fought  before  or  since.    A  few  days  after  the  great  battle,  I 


1038  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

stood  upon  the  very  spot  now  occupied  by  this  beautiful  memorial  on  famous 
Gulp's  Hill.  In  every  direction  around  mementos  of  the  great  struggle  were 
visible.  Here  were  tiie  breastworks  of  logs,  and  rocks  and  earth,  which  had 
been  cast  up  in  front  of  tlie  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  Regiment.  On  the  slope 
below,  up  which  the  Gonfederates  pressed,  unexploded  shells  were  half  buried  in 
oak  trees,  the  branches  of  which  were  cut  and  bruised  by  others;  and  the 
trunks  of  nearly  all  were  scarred  so  thickly  with  bullet  marks  fourteen  or 
fifteen  feet  above  the  ground,  that  scarcely  an  inch  between  them  of  untouched 
bark  remained,  in  front  of  General  Slocum's  lines.  Under  the  edge  of  a  log, 
where  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  was  stationed,  I  picked  up  a  letter  written 
to  one  of  its  captains,  by  his  wife,  in  which  she  most  feelingly  alluded  to  "  Our 
dear  little  baby,",  and  her  anxiety  about  her  "  Darling  husband."  At  that 
moment  there  were  thousands  of  mothers  and  wives  all  over  the  land,  from  the 
lakes  to  the  gulf,  with  "  Dear  little  babies,"  and  anxious  about  "  Darling 
husbands  "  in  the  armies. 

The  regiment  went  to  Tennessee,  and,  under  General  Sherman,  it  fought 
its  way  through  Georgia  to  Atlanta,  thence  marched  to  the  sea,  and  made  its 
way  to  Virginia  just  as  the  war  closed.  Meanwhile,  grateful  citizens  at  home 
and  the  regiment  in  the  field  had  made  the  beloved  Colonel  Ketcham  their 
representative  in  Congress  by  election.  I  remember  with  what  pride  and 
alacrity,  at  that  election,  I  followed  the  injunction  of  the  average  politician, — 
"  Vote  early  and  often," —  for,  serving  as  a  proxy,  I  was  authorized  to  cast 
fourteen  ballots  for  their  brave  and  kind  colonel,  by  "  Our  boys,"  who  were 
then  "  Marching  through  Georgia."  He  was  elected  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago,  and  has  been  in  Congress  ever  since,  and  may  remain  there  as  much 
longer  as  he  chooses. 

I  followed  that  flag  from  Nashville  to  Atlanta,  but  at  a  respectful  distance 
from  danger.  It  was  after  the  war  that  I  was  in  quest  of  historic  materials.  I 
followed  the  regiment  over  the  high  tablelands  of  southeastern  Tennessee;  de- 
scended into  the  valley  of  the  Tennessee  River,  crossed  it  and  passed  along  the 
foot  of  Lookout  Mountain  to  Chattanooga;  climbed  to  Lookout's  lofty  summit; 
went  over  the  battlefield  at  Resaca  and  through  Allatoona  Pass;  and  near 
Marietta  ascended  to  the  summit  of  the  great  Kenesaw  Mountain,  in  the  vicinity 
of  which  our  regiment  had  many  hard  struggles  with  the  Confederates,  while, 
for  three  weeks,  there  was  a  continual  down-pour  of  rain.  I  stood  upon  the 
spot  on  the  top  of  Kenesaw  where  Sherman  signaled  his  famous  despatch  to 
Corse,  at  Allatoona  (in  sight)  which  was  substantially,  "  Hold  the  fort  for  I 
am  coming."  It  suggested  the  stirring  Moody  and  Sankey  hymn  bearing  that 
title. 

I  followed  the  flag  across  the  Chattahoochee  River  to  the  defences  of  At- 
lanta, before  which  our  regiment  achieved  special  renown,  and  where  its  gal- 
lant young  major,  then  promoted  to  lieutenant  colonel,  won  his  spurs  by  great 
skill  and  bravery.  I  did  not  follow  the  flag  from  Atlanta  to  the  Sea.  A  few 
months  after  the  memorable  event  peace  came,  and  then  appeared  one  of  the 
most  sublime  spectacles  ever  seen  on  the  earth.  It  was  the  disbanding  of  the 
Union  army,  then  nearly  800,000  strong,  in  the  space  of  a  little  more  than  100 


New  Yokk  at  Gettysburg.  1039 

days,  and  the  transformation  of  such  a  vast  body  of  soldiers  into  civilians,  en- 
gaged in  the  pursuits  of  peace. 

I  well  remember  the  coming  home  of  our  regiment,  and  its  grand  reception 
by  40,000  citizens  of  Dutchess  and  its  vicinity  on  one  of  the  fairest  of  June  days. 
Flags,  banners,  arches,  covered  with  evergreens  and  flowers,  made  brilliant  the 
passage  of  the  regiment  with  its  immense  escort,  through  the  streets  of  Pough- 
keepsie  from  the  river  to  the  Mansion  Square  Park.  The  tattered  flag  was 
saluted  with  cheers  unceasing.  Colonel  Smith  and  his  horse,  covered  with 
floral  tributes,  appeared  like  animated  flower-beds.  At  the  Park,  crowded  with 
the  fair  sex,  thirty-six  yovmg  girls,  personifying  the  States,  welcomed  the  re- 
turning heroes.  Judge  Emott,  who  gave  them  parting  words  of  cheer,  wel- 
comed them  with  warmest  expressions  of  gratitude. 

These  were  thanksgivings  that  so  many  of  the  regiment  who  went  out  with 
the  flag  had  returned  with  it.  They  had  lost  only  132  comrades.  Of  these,  2 
officers  and  49  enlisted  men  had  been  killed',  and  3  officers  and  78  enlisted  men 
had  died  of  disease,  accidents,  and  in  prison. 

A  grateful  people  are  now  building  and  dedicating  monuments  to  the  memory 
of  those  who  died  that  the  Republic  might  I've.     That  is  our  errand  here  to-day. 

Friends,  every  American  citizen  of  both  sexes  has  an  equally  momentous 
duty  to  perform.  To  us  is  committed  the  special  work  of  cherishing  those 
social  and  political  virtues  which  shall  perpetuate  indefinitely  the  power  and 
beneficent  influence  of  our  great  Republic  among  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

Let  us  be  faithful. 


ADDRESS  BY  GEN.  H.  H.  LOCKWOOD. 

When  General  Lee  crossed  the  Potomac  in  June,  1863,  I  was  in  command 
of  a  brigade  of  Maryland  troops  on  the  lower  Potomac.  Ordered  to  Baltimore 
with  these  Maryland  troops,  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  New  York  Regiment 
was  attached  to  my  command,  and  the  brigade  ordered  to  Frederick.  March- 
ing to  that  place  by  easy  stages  we  encamped  on  the  Monocacy  below  Frederick, 
and  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Soon  long  trains  of  bag- 
gage wagons  were  seen  crossing  the  lower  bridge,  followed  by  the  grand  army 
which,  after  many  battles,  had,  as  yet,  failed  to  check  the  Army  of  Northern 
"Virginia.  You  may  remember  the  sublime  spectacle  presented  by  Meade's 
army  as  it  lay  below  us  encamped  on  the  wide  plain  below  Frederick.  After 
nightfall  its  camp-fires  were  seen  everywhere.  My  brigade  was  assigned  to 
the  Twelfth  Army  Corps,  and  on  the  following  day  marched  with  it  by  the 
upper  road  east  of  the  Monocacy  towards  Littlestown,  Pa.,  which  village  was 
reached  on  the  second  day,  and  went  into  camp,  while  the  rest  of  the  Twelfth 
Corps  passed  on  towards  Gettysburg.  This  was  the  night  following  the  first 
day's  fight.  The  booming  of  cannon  and  the  rapid  movement  of  trains  to  and 
from  the  depots  at  Westminster  showed  that  the  strife  had  begun.  Long  be- 
fore daylight  the  next  morning  we  moved  towards  the  battlefield,  and  reported 
for  duty  soon  after  the  rising  of  the  sun. 


I040  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Our  position,  you  will  remember,  was  on  the  extreme  right,  flanked  by  the 
small  mill-pond  above  the  bridge.  This  we  held  till  the  middle  of  the  after- 
noon when,  with  other  troops  of  the  Twelfth  Corps,  we  were  ordered  to  the 
left  to  reinforce  General  Sickles.  When  we  had  reached  this  scene  of  strife 
the  contest  assumed  great  proportions.  General  Hunt,  chief  of  artillery.  Army 
of  Potomac,  says  in  his  sketch  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  published  in  the 
Century,  that  at  no  time  was  the  result  of  Sickles'  defence  graver  than  at  about 
the  time  the  Twelfth  Corps  joined  in  the  contest.  Formed  in  two  lines, 
Lockwood's  Independent  Brigade  of  the  Twelfth  Corps  —  for  such'  was  its  title 
and  so  known  in  official  reports  —  rushed  with  many  cheers  into  the  thickest 
of  the  fight,  over  ground  strewn  with  dead  and  wounded,  and  many  other  evi- 
dences of  having  been  successively  lost  and  won.  The  enemy  fell  back,  and 
our  brigade  reached  the  celebrated  Peach  Orchard,  and  there,  with  other  troops, 
held  the  enemy  in  check.  Night  following,  the  enemy  fell  back  and  gave  up 
an  attempt  on  the  left.  Colonel  Maulsby,  commanding  one  of  my  regiments, 
thinks  that  the  field  just  back  of  the  Peach  Orchard  should  be  the  site  of  our 
regimental  monuments.  Though  little  blood  was  shed  here  by  us,  our  resolute 
charge  and  firm  stand  at  that  critical  hour  had  much  to  do  in  determining  the 
contest.  The  Compte  de  Paris,  in  his  history  of  the  battle,  mentioned  this  in- 
dependent brigade  with  rare  merit,  and  ours  is  about  the  only  brigade  named 
by  him,  because  it  was  the  only  one  not  acting  with  a  division. 

Those  of  you  that  may  desire  a  full  account  of  this  battle  and  of  the  part 
taken  by  our  brigade  should  read  this  history.  Many  other  accounts  of  this 
battle  have  been  published^  but  they  are  generally  partisan  or  colored. 

Falling  back  to  resume  our  old  position  on  the  right  we  reached  the  Balti- 
more Pike,  and  were  surprised  to  find  the  enemy's  pickets  near  by.  During  the 
absence  of  the  Twelfth  Corps  the  enemy  had  driven  in  the  few  troops  left  to 
guard  our  right  and  hold  the  works.  We  lay  near  the  Pike  on  our  arms  till 
break  of  day.  The  enemy  lay  under  cover  before  Gulp's  Hill.  Our  brigade 
then  supported  heavy  batteries,  which  shelled  the  enemy,  and  afterwards  formed 
line  to  charge  them  under  cover  of  these  batteries,  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth 
New  York  on  the  left  of  our  line.  This  charge  was  made  in  the  most  gallant 
manner,  and  at  a  considerable  loss,  the  enemy  falling  back  behind  a  stone  fence 
near  the  summit  of  the  hill.  With  some  difficulty  the  men  were  checked 
from  exposing  themselves  to  the  deadly  fire  of  the  enemy.  Doubtless  they 
would  have  driven  them  back  over  the  hill,  but  it  was  deemed  best  to  bring 
other  troops  on  their  flanks,  and  thus  effect  the  same  result  without  serious 
loss.  Thus  the  ground  lost  during  our  absence  was  recovered,  and  the  right 
regained. 

It  is  to  commemorate  this  phase  of  this  memorable  battle  and  gallant  deeds 
of  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  New  York  therein,  that  this  beautiful  monu- 
ment is  erected. 

Subsequently  my  brigade  occupied  the  rifle  pits  on  Gulp's  Hill  till  the  close 
of  the  third  day  and  the  end  of  the  struggle.  You  doubtless  remember  the 
glorious  Fourth  following,  and  how  the  heavens  were  opened  and  we  became 
damp,  half-drowned  soldiers,  as  we  lay  in  bivouac  alongside  the  Pike;  and 


New  York,  at  Gettysburg.  1041 

how  with  filled  stomachs  and  haversacks,  we  made  the  long  and  weary  march 
to  Williamsport,  hoping  there  to  encounter  and  capture  the  retreating  army 
ol  General  Lee;  how  we  made  the  dreary,  wet,  miserable  march  into  the 
village,  and  found  the  bird  had  flown ;  how  with  the  Twelfth  Corps  we  marched 
to  Maryland  Heights,  when  my  connection  with  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth 
New  York  terminated,  though  by  no  means  my  interest  in  the  gallant  regi- 
ment. You  will  find  when  the  volume  of  Rebellion  Records  containing  an 
account  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  comes  to  be  published  that  no  brigade, 
no  regiment  is  more  strongly  commended  than  is  the  Independent  Brigade  of 
the  Twelfth  Corps  /and  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  New  York  Regiment. 
The  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  New  York  passed  on  with  Meade's  army  to  gain 
other  laurels,  while  I  with  my  Maryland  regiment  was  added  to  the  garrison 
at  Harper's  Ferry,  of  which  I  assumed  the  command. 

No  battle  stands  more  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  the  war  than  that  of 
Gettysburg,  nor  had  any  one  more  important  consequences.  It  was  the  turning 
point  in  the  war,  and  had  it  been  lost  it  is  fearful  to  regard  the  consequences. 
Our  success  there,  added  to  the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  the  same  day,  broke  the 
backbone  of  the  Rebellion.  This  battle  looms  up  brighter  and  brighter  as  time 
rolls  on,  and  your  children  and  mine  will  ever  be  proud  that  we  were  there.  Its 
bearing  on  the  future  was  not  so  fully  seen  at  the  time  as  it  is  at  this  day,  be- 
cause of  the  disappointment  felt  by  the  country  in  our  failure  to  overcome  Lee 
at  Williamsport. 

I  knew  from  a  personal  interview  with  President  Lincoln  how  grateful  he 
felt  at  the  success  of  our  army  on  the  ist,  2d  and  3d  of  July,  and  how  deeply  he 
mourned  that  this  was  not  followed  up  before  Lee  escaped  over  the  Potomac. 


ADDRESS  BY  COL.  WILLIAM  P.  MAULSBY, 
First  Regiment,  Potomac  Home  Brigade,  Maryland  Volunteers. 

I  am  asked  to  say  something.  After  what  has  been  said,  what  remains  to  be 
said?  And  yet,  under  the  inspiration  of  seeing  before  me  so  many  eyes  into 
which  I  looked  over  twenty-six  years  ago  for  helpful  encouragement,  that 
what' we  were  jointly  prdered  to  do  would  assuredly  be  done,  heightened  by 
the  beamings  from  the  bright  eyes  of  the  ladies  who  are  here  to-day  to  testify 
their  enthusiastic  commemoration  of  what  was  done,  how  can  I  refuse,  my, 
comrades?  Yes,  comrades,  indeed,  and  in  truth!  It  is  impossible  for  any,  who 
have  not  experienced  it,  to  conceive,  the  perfect  community  of  thought,  of  feel- 
ing, of  dedication  of  self  to  death  or  life,  according  as  the  God  of  battles  may 
decree,  which  is  realized  by  masses  of  men  engaged  side  by  side,  and  shoulder 
to  shoulder,  in  the  supreme  duty  of  fighting  amid  shot  and  shell  and  storms  of 
minie  balls,  for  the  maintenance  of  the  power  of  popular  government  to  govern. 
We  were  brothers  in  fact  and  truth! 

And  what  can  I  say  except  to  refresh  our  recollections  of  some  of  the  in- 
cidents, in  which  we  were  joint  actors,  amid  these  trees  and  rocks,  and  on 
yonder  fields. 

66 


I042  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

We,  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  New  York  and  First  Maryland  P.  H.  B.,* 
were  closest  associates  from  the  commencement  of  the  Gettysburg  campaign, 
at  Monocacy  Junction,  to  its  close  at  Williamsport. 

Of  what  we  did  together  it  is  fit  that  I  only  speak  on  this  occasion.  The 
First  E.  S.f  Maryland  was  brigaded  with  us  as  Lockwood's  Brigade, 
attached  to  the  Twelfth  Corps,  but  did  not  reach  us  until  the  morning  of  the 
third  day  at  Gettysburg,  where,  at  Gulp's  Hill,  it  proved  itself  a  worthy  as- 
sociate. 

When,  on  the  morning  of  the  second  day,  our  line  of  battle  was  finally 
established,  we  were  stationed  together  on  the  extreme  right,  and  intrusted 
with  the  holding  of  that  position. 

In  the  afternoon  of  that  day  a  movement  occurred  to  which  Judge  Gilder- 
sleeve  has  referred,  and  of  which  I  ask  his  leave  to  attempt  a  fuller  description. 

During  the  attack  on  General  Sickles'  corps  on  our  left,  we,  the  One  hun- 
dred and  fiftieth  New  York  and  the  First  Maryland  P.  H.  B.,  were  ordered  from 
the  right  to  the  left  We  moved,  as  you  remember,  in  a  quick  step,  break- 
ing at  times  into  a  double-quick,  over  the  small  wagon  road  leading  from  the 
Baltimore  Pike  to  the  Taneytown  Road,  under  a  broiling  sun,  the  men  with 
no  incumbrances  but  their  guns,  full  cartridge  boxes,  and  blankets  rolled 
and  swung  over  their  shoulders. 

We  found  this  narrow  road  filled  with  Sickles'  men,  seeking  hospitals,  and 
bearing  every  conceivable  kind  of  ghastly  wounds,  some  with  one  leg  shot  off, 
some  with  one  arm  shot  away,  carried  and  helped  along  by  their  less  wounded 
comrades,  and  all  covered  with  blood,  sweat,  and  the  black  grimy  smoke  and 
dust  and  dirt  of  the  battle. 

Don't  you  recollect.  General  Ketcham,  when  we  first  met  this  spectacle, 
how  anxiously  we  turned  in  our  saddles  to  watch  the  effect  on  our  men; 
whether  it  unnerved  them,  or  stiffened  their  sinews,  and  "  summoned  up  the 
blood ; "  and  don't  you  remember  how  the  sight  we  met  was  of  every  man  un- 
hitching his  blanket,  throwing  it  away  in  the  road,  and  breaking  into  a  quicker 
step?  And  how  we  felt  that  all  was  right,  and  that  every  order  we  might 
receive,  and  give,  would  be  obeyed  to  the  letter? 

Reaching  a  little  eminence  beyond  the  Taneytown  Road  we  were  ordered  by 
General  Williams  to  form  line  of  battle  (which  was  done  without  halting),  fix 
bayonets,  and  charge  at  double-quick. 

Can  you  remember  now  without  a  thrill  that  scene,  when  witli  shell  bursting 
around  and  over  and  among  them,  the  men,  with  roars  of  cheer  which  might 
well  make  the  enemy  in  our  front  mistake  the  1,400  men  moving  on  them  for 
the  entire  right  of  the  Union  army  —  as  General  Longstreet  did  —  made  that 
bayonet  charge  at  a  double-quick,  past  the  base  of  Little  Round  Top,  over  the 
Wheatfield,  to,  and  ending  only  at,  the  ravine  beyond  the  Wheatfield,  more 
than  half  a  mile  beyond  the  Union  Hne  —  capturing  three  pieces  of  artillery; 
and  how  the  enemy  retired  before  them  in  a  pace  quickened  by  the  bayonets  in 
their  rear? 


*  Potomac   Home  Brigade,     t  Eastern  Shore. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1043 

It  is  true  that  as  Phoebus'  tired  horses  were  descending  to  their  western 
resting   place,  he    helped  us  to  seem  many  more  than  in  fact  we  were,  by- 
darting  his  brightest  rays  on  our  clean  gun  barrels  and  bayonets,  and  so, 
producing  such  glittering  coruscations  as  might  well  make  one  gun  and 
bayonet  appear  to  be  ten. 

This  charge  was  led,  in  part  by  General  Meade,  and  wholly  by  Generals 
Williams  and  Lockwood. 

You  and  I,  sir.  General  Ketcham,  were  proper  and  discreet  enough  to 
keep  to  our  assigned  places  in  the  rear  of  our  men;  but  you  know,  and  all 
know,  that  our  brigade  commander,  Lockwood,  would  always  be  right  in 
front  of  the  front  rank,  forgetting  that  if  the  enemy  should  make  a  stand,  he 
must  have  been  right  between  the  meeting  bayonets  and  could  not  well 
have  avoided  getting  hurt.  But  on  this  occasion,  anyhow,  he  would  not  heed 
prudence. 

I  have  referred  to  this  charge  because  Judge  Gildersleeve,  who  was  in  it 
too,  has  said  that  we  were  not  obliged  to  fire  a  gun.  I  beg  to  remind  'him 
that  we  were  not  called  on  to  fire  minies  on  this  occasion,  but  to  use  bayonets. 

That  the  bayonets  were  not  bloodied  was  because  our  friends  on  the  other 
side  did  not  stand  long  enough  to  give  the  bayonets  a  chance  to  show  what 
metal  they  were  made  of.  I  thought  then,  and  have  always  thought,  that  no 
more  beautiful  movement  could  ever  have  occurred  on  a  field  of  battle  than 
this  bayonet  charge,  continued  as  it  was  for  at  least  a  mile  and  a  half  with 
the  same  vim  with  which  it  started.  And  I  have  mentioned  it,  too,  because 
I  have,  within  a  few  years  past,  heard  it  asserted  by  those  who  have  pro- 
fessed to  know,  that  this  charge  was  an  important  factor  in  the  Gettysburg 
campaign.  A  large  force  from  our  right  had  been  ordered  to  meet  our  two 
regiments  and  assist  in  the  work.  In  some  way  that  force  had  mistaken  the 
road,  and  our  regiments  only  were  at  hand.  I  recollect  the  intense  anxiety  of 
General  Williams'  manner  and  tone  when  he  guve  the  order  for  the  bayonet 
charge.  Uniformly  tranquil  g.nd  quiet,  this  was  the  only  occasion  when  I  ever 
saw  him  betray  excitement.  General  Meade's  presence  and  participation  indi- 
cated the  importance  to  be  attached  to  it. 

The  fact  is  that  neither  General  Ketcham  nor  I  thought  or  knew  an)rthing  on 
the  occasion  in  question,  save  only  that  Generals  Meade,  Slocum,  and  Williams 
gave  orders  to  General  Lockwood.  He  gave  them  to  us,  we  to  our  officers 
and  men,  and  they  executed  them.  This  is  no  mock  modesty;  only  the  plain, 
real  truth.  Yes,  it  was  the  men  who  carried  the  cartridge  boxes,  the  muskets, 
and  the  bayonets,  who,  in  real  fact,  did  what  was  done.  And,  it  is  not  just 
that  whatever  honor  accrued  from  their  doings  should  be  given  to  other  than 
themselves.  And  here  let  me  say  that  the  One  hundred  and  fiftieth  New  York 
stands  alone,  so  far  as  my  knowledge  goes,  in  rendering  to  the  men  the 
honor  that  is  their  due.  Inscribed  on  its  noble  monument  appear  the  names  of 
all  its  officers  and  of  all  its  men;  those  who  have  been  spared,  as  well  as  those 
who  have  gone  from  earthly  places.  May  I  not,  Mr.  Chaplain,  hope  that, 
having  been  obedient  to  duty  unto  death,  they  have  reaped  the  reward  of 
obedience?  Nay,  may  we  not  believe  that  the  moment  they  face  death  a 
Divine  voice,  audible  only  to  each  man's  inner  consciousness,  commanded  them 


I044  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

to  die  like  men  in  rendering  to  duty  its  due  service;  that  their  perfect  obedience 
to  that  voice,  mounting  above  every  other  hope  and  fear  to  the  last,  highest  pin- 
nacle of  duty,  won  that  compassionate  mercy,  which  merged  in  that  last  act  of 
perfect  obedience  the  shortcomings  and  misdoings  of  former  lives?  That 
they  are  safe,  how  much  safer  there,  than  we,  the  survivors,  here?  Straight 
and  blessed  is  the  path  of  duty! 

Time  would  be  wanting,  if  it  were  otherwise  in  good  taste,  to  recount  the 
acts  of  our  two  regiments  on  the  third  and  last  day;  how  at  early  daybreak 
both  were  supporting  the  batteries  first  opened  to  drive  the  enemy  from  our 
intrenchments,  which,  in  our  absence  on  our  left  the  night  before,  the  foe 
Jiad  occupied;  how  at  sunrise,  near  Spangler's  Spring,  nearly  lOO  of  the 
■officers  and  men  of  my  own  regiment  lay  dead  and  wounded  within  a  few 
minutes;  how,  in  a  short  time  after,  both  regiments  were  engaged  for 
hours,  with  Ewell's  Corps  on  Gulp's  Hill, —  you,  where  your  monument  stands, 
and  we,  near  by;  and  how,  when  Ewell  was  driven,  and  we  hoped  that  the 
worst  was  over,  we  were  summoned  to  Cemetery  Hill  to  aid  in  repulsing  that 
last,  desperate  charge  of  Pickett. 

Pictures  of  battlefields  show  the  horses  of  commanding  officers  with 
curved  necks  and  distended  nostrils,  with  one  foot  on  the  earth 
and  the  other  three  clear  above  it;  and  their  riders  with  flashing  swords, 
streaming  plumes,  and  gold  lace'  glittering  in  the  sunlight,  as  if  the 
issue  of  the  battle  depended  on  the  speed  with  which  they  were  borne.  Our 
experience  at  Gettysburg  cannot  attest  the  faithfulness  to  life  of  such  pictures. 
I  do  not  believe  that  one  single  horse  was  seen  with  three  feet  in  the  air,  and- 
only  one  on  the  ground,  outside  the  cavalry  or  artillery.  A  more  quiet,  gentle, 
orderly  set  of  horses  than  those  of  the  general  officers,  or  moving  at  more 
deliberate  pace,  it  would  be  hard  to  find  anywhere.  More  unostentatious, 
sedate,  thoughtful-looking,  plain  men,  than  the  horses'  riders  would  be  equally 
hard  to  find.  I  feel  assured  that  no  one  plume  floated  in  the  breeze;  no  one 
sword  flashed  in  the  sunlight,  nor  one  golden  epaulette  made  its  appearance, 
nor  other  insignia  than  that  of  downright  hard  work.  Their  orders  were  de- 
livered by  gentlemen  to  those  whom  they  recognized  as  gentlemen,  and  rather 
in  the  tone  and  garb  of  polite  requests  than  of  orders;  and  they  were  none  the 
less  effective  on  that  account.  Every  man  within  the  sound  of  my  voice  who 
was  there,  will  say  that  this  description  fits  Slocum,  Williams,  Ruger,  Greene, 
and  Lockwood  with  whom  we  were  brought  into  mor€  immediate  contact. 
Each  was  a  courteous  gentleman.  Each  assumed  nothing  towards  officer, 
or  private.  They,  and  all  of  us,  were  comrades.  All  were  equal  —  each  in 
his  sphere  of  duty.  Your  regimental  commander  at  that  time  was,  and  is, 
a  fair  example  of  the  rest.  Who  ever  saw  him  anywhere,  other  than  an  un- 
obtrusive, quiet  gentleman,  always  alert,  and  never  demonstrative.  It  may 
pain  you,  ladies,  to  know  that  the  gold  lace  and  flaunting  feathers  which 
decorated  them  when  you  (proudly,  but  nervously  too)  bade  them  good-by 
on  their  leaving  your  homes  for  the  tented  fields,  were  all  tucked  carefully  away 
when  they  reached  the  field,  and  only  brought  out  again,  looking  fresh  and 
new  from  their  long  retirement,  when  they  were  donned  for  your  admiration 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1045 

on  coming  home.  The  truth  is,  that  at  Gettysburg  they  were  not  handsome. 
Their  looks  would  not  have  thrilled  the  bosom  of  a  maiden,  however  susceptible. 
They  were  neither  shaven  or  shorn,  nor  was  their  Hnen  immaculate,  nor  theif 
boots  nicely  blacked.  In  fine,  they  were  not  lovable  in  appearance,  anyhow. 
Of  course,  present  company  is  excepted. 

But  one  thing  is  certain.  They  stood  in  their  tracks.  When  told  to  advance 
they  advanced.  They  were  never  told  to  retreat,  and  they  did  not  retreat. 
The  battle  of  Gettysburg  may  fairly  be  said  to  have  been  marked  by  one 
distinguishing  feature  —  one  peculiarity,  and  that  was  plain,  hard^  stand-up 
fighting.  On  both  sides  the  rule  of  every  man  was  to  stand  and  fight.  Evolu- 
tions, tactics,  and  science  were  not  in  requisition. 

An  incident  illustrating  the  real  spirit  of  the  Union  soldiers  of  1863, 
and  to  the  end. 

In  the  course  of  the  charge  mentioned  we  were  obliged  to  pass  over  a  long 
line  of  men  who  were  killed  and  wounded  earlier  in  the  day.  As  we  passed, 
stepping  carefully  over  and  between  the  bodies,  not  a  sound  was  uttered  by 
the  suffering  wounded. 

They  suffered  and  were  still,  so  long  as  actual  service  was  being  done  in 
the  cause  for  which  they  had  fallen.  But  when,  in  a  short  time  after,  the 
charge  had  ended,  and  night  was  coming  on,  and  they  realized  that  their 
comrades  were  no  longer  in  action  and  could  heed  and  help  them  without 
neglect  of  other  duty,  their  groans  and  cries  for  help  went  up,  and  were  re- 
sponded to.  Such 'was  the  manhood  of  the  masses  of  the  men  who  composed 
the  army  of  the  Union.     The  cause  was  first,  themselves  secondary. 

It  is  neither  a  poetic  fiction  nor  a  rhetorical  flourish,  but  a  hard  fact,  that 
little  more  than  100  years  ago,  our  fathers  founded  a  government  whose  corner 
stone  was  that  "  Governments  are  instituted  among  men  deriving  their  just 
powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed ; "  and  that  they  toiled  and  suffered, 
and  shed  precious  blood  through  seven  years  for  the  privilege  of  doing  so. 

The  sequence  that  the  governed  are  best  qualified  and  entitled  to  exercise 
their  own  powers,  and  to  give  or  withhold  their  own  consent,  was  the  cause 
in  which  the  Gettysburg  of  1863  took  place  —  in  which  the  dead  died,  and 
the  wounded  suffered. 

We  would  be  smaller  than  the  pigmiest  dwarfs,  if  we  did  not  hold  "  our 
lives,  our  fortunes  and  our  sacred  honor "  as  but  tributary  to  that  cause. 
This  is  not  rhetoric.  Plain  fact  to  be  realized,  and  always  kept  in  mind,  by 
everv  true-hearted  American  citizen.  This  is  the  whole  story.  This,  the 
whole  meaning  and  intent  of  the  men  who  gave  to  the  Gettysburg  of  July, 
1863,  its  fame.     Esto  Perpetua. 


Mrs.  Rev.  E.  O.  Bartlett  read  the  poem  composed  by  Wallace  Bruce  for 
the  occasion. 


1046  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

ON  GUARD  — THE  150th  REGIMENT  AT  GETTYSBURG. 
By  Wallace  Bruce. 

"  We  cannot  consecrate  this  field, 

Or  hallow  ground  where  heroes  stood;  " — 
Thus  spoke  the  man  whose  words  have  sealed 
Our  lips  in  Freedom's  Holyrood. 

"  We  cannot  dedicate;  "  too  well 

Our  Lincoln  knew  the  Temple's  cost; 
He  heard  the  Nation's  anthem  swell:  — 
"  Your  deeds  survive,  our  words  are  lost." 

"  The  brave  men,  living  and  the  dead, 
Who  wrought  the  epic  of  the  free. 
Have  consecrated  here,"  he  said, 
"  The  land,  the  world,  to  liberty." 

And  now  amid  the  whirling  years. 

That  punctuate  the  swift  decades. 
You  come  with  blended  joys  and  tears. 

In  peace  beneath  the  gathering  shades. 

To  contemplate  from  hill  to  hill 

The  line  you  held  those  bitter  days; 
Again  to  feel  your  pulses  thrill. 

Once  more  to  take  your  meed  of  praise; 

With  noble  monument  to  mark 

The  spot  where  Dutchess,  tried  and  true. 

Stood  by  the  faith  when  skies  were  dark. 
And  stars  were  blotted  from  the  blue; 

A  picket  outpost  here  for  aye. 

With  watchword  of  the  Hudson  born. 
To  note  the  moonlight  shadows  play, 

To  greet  with  joy  the  early  tnorn; 

A  silent  sentinel  to  keep 

Its  post  along  the  quiet  line; 
A  Bannockburn,  where  brothers  sleep; 

A  Waterloo,  where  roses  twine. 

Aye,  Gettysburg,  the  name  at  last 

Proclaims  the  triumph  of  the  race;— 
'Tis  here  the  future  greets  the  past. 

And  faith  asserts  her  crowning  grace. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  ^^047 

No  other  battlefield  like  thine, 

Where  love  joins  hands  across  the  way: 
One  flag,  one  land,  a  sacred  shrine 

Alike  unto  the  Blue  and  Gray. 

Then  rear  the  graven  stone  with  pride 

Along  the  line  where  Freedom's  van 
Shall  speak  to  generations  wide 

The  final  victory  of  man: — 

That  love  and  law  shall  reign  supreme 

Where'er  the  starry  banner  waves. 
When  stones  that  now  in  sunlight  gleam 

Shall  lie  in  dust  above  their  graves. 


BENEDICTION  BY  CHAPLAIN  E.  O.  BARTLETT. 

The  God  of  Peace  that  brought  again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  that 
great  Shepherd  of  the  Sheep,  make  His  face  to  shine  upon  you,  and  be  gracious 
unto  you,  and  make  these  memorial  services  a  great  and  lasting  blessing  to  us 
and  to  our  country,  Amen, 


1048  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 
154th  new  YORK 
INFANTRY, 
1st  brigade,  2nd  division, 
llTH  CORPS. 
July  i,  1863. 
(Reverse.) 
*   Casualties    > 
Killed  Men      i 

Wounded  Officers  i,  Men    20 

Captured  or  Missing  Officers  9,  Men  169 

Total  200. 
(Right  Side.) 
;  July  2  &  3, 

occupied  position 
ON  East  Cemetery  Hill 
>     '  (Leftside.) 

Died  while  prisoners. 
■'■  :  -A  ;•  42'   \.-    .';    ■  -  ^ 


.  B.  LYON  PRINT. 


P".  J.  SEVERENCK,  PHOTO 


154th    new   YORK    INFANTRY, 
[n  field  at  the  north  end  of  Stratton  street,  showing  ground  occupied  by  Coster's  Brigade,  Eleventh  Corps. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1049 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

154th  regiment  INFANTRY. 

t 

July  I,  1890.  I 

Address  of  Col.  Daniel  B.  Allen. 
Comrades,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

The  generous  and  grateful  care  which  our  State  exercises  over  its  veteran 
soldiers  enables  us  to-day  to  consecrate  this  monument  to  the  One  hundred 
and  fifty-fourth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers.  This  gratitude  and  care 
are  well  deserved.  These  fields  now  marked  with  granite  and  marble  columns, 
twenty-seven  years  ago  were  trodden  by  heroes  and  moistened  with  their  blood. 
Here  the  presumption  of  the  Rebels  who  helped  to  carry  devastation  to 
Northern  fields  and  hearts  and  homes  received  its  death  blow,  and  the  so-called 
Confederate  States  were  to  become  Confederate  ruins.  It  took  many  a  heroic 
life  afterwards  to  end  their  career,  but  that  end  was  here,  on  the  first  days  of 
July,  1863,  doomed  and  made  certain.  It  is  fit  then  that  this  spot,  this  ground- 
swell  of  our  Nation's  hopes,  should  be  spired  heavenward  and  dedicated  to 
fame,  that  posterity  and  the  ages  may  see  and  read  the  proven  deeds  of  their 
ancestors. 

These  columns  are  not  erected  through  any  partiality  towards  the  troops 
who  fought  here,  to  distinguish  them  from  the  brave  regiments  from  our  State 
whose  valor  consecrated  other  fields.  Our  other  regiments  and  these  same 
troops  fought  as  courageously  upon  other  fields  and  enabled  us  to  triumph  here. 
The  gratitude  of  our  state  is  just  as  great  to  all  our  soldiers  who  fought  well 
whether  this  was  the  scene  of  their  exploits,  or  whether  their  valor  and  their 
lives  consecrated  the  fields  of  Yorktown,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancel- 
lorsville,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  or  Appomattox,  or  the  many  glorious  fields 
of  the  West.  This  field  was  rather  selected  for  these  monuments  because  our 
victory  here  was  more  marked  and  certain;  the  tide  of  battle  here  began  to  turn. 
If  not  the  greatest  battle  of  the  war,  it  was  the  most  decisive,  except  the  final 
one.  It  was  the  only  great  battle  fought  in  the  North  where  the  consent  of 
the  state  authorities  and  citizens  would  be  willingly  given  to  the  protection  of 
the  ground,  and  where  the  surrounding  sentiment  and  atmosphere  were  free 
and  loyal;  and,  lastly,  because  easy  of  access  to  the  millions,  I  trust,  who  in 
the  future  will  come  and  stand  with  uncovered  heads  beneath  these  monuments 
and  inhale  the  air  of  freedom,  of  patriotism,  and  loyalty  which  hallows  this 
spot. 

Comrades  of  other  armies  then  will  not  feel  aggrieved  but  proud  that  fortune 
has  decreed  that  these  memorials  to  heroism  should  be  erected  here,  although 
their  names  and  services  are  not  particularly  marked  in  the  numbers  inscribed 
upon  these  columns;  and  could  our  fallen  soldiers  whose  dust  is  consecrated 
here  speak  a  few  last  words  they  would  say  to  their  comrades,  so  many  of 
whom,  alas,  sleep  in  strange  soil  and  in  unmarked  graves, — "  Come  to  me, 
comrade;  my  fortune  is  your  fortune;  we  marched  to  the  same  music;   we 


loso  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

endured  the  same  hardships ;  we  shared  the  same  fate ;  '  we  drank  from  the  same 
canteen; '  we  fell  in  the  same  cause;  come  sleep  with  me  under  my  blanket! " 

The  duty  which  we  perform  in  coming  here  to-day  is  necessarily  sad.  The 
memories  of  the  war  are  mournful.  Each  heart  had  its  special  grief  besides 
the  general  mourning.  Each  battle  took  away  some  one  or  more  who  were 
particularly  dear  to  us.  "  Death  loves  a  shining  mark."  Years  have  hung 
their  curtains  round  the  graves  of  our  loved  ones;  the  poignant  edge  of  grief 
has  become  softened ;  but  memory  comes  back  to-day  laden  with  many  sorrows. 

There  are  some  compensations  in  the  soldier's  life  for  its  toils  and  dangers 
besides  the  main  one  —  the  performance  of  duty.  The  grandest,  proudest,  most 
enthusiastic  feeling  which  can  ever  visit  the  heart  of  man  is  the  moment  at  the 
end  of  a  hard  fought  field  when  the  enemy  finally  gives  way  and  surrenders  the 
field  of  battle.  The  Union  soldier  who  witnessed  the  final  repulse  and  flight 
of  Longstreet's  Corps  upon  this  field  twenty-seven  years  ago,  can  never  again 
experience  the  feeling  of  joy  and  pride  which  then  thrilled  his  soul. 

If  the  heavens  were  beyond  the  reach  of  his  swelling  heart  and  waving 
hands,  they  were  not  beyond  the  sound  of  his  enthusiastic  voice;  and  any, 
anxious  citizen  within  miles  around  who  could  distinguish  between  the  dif- 
ferent cheers  of  the  two  armies  could  not  mistake  upon  which  standard  the 
eagle  of  victory  had  finally  perched. 

Through  some  mistake,  the  number  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in  the  battle 
are  not  correctly  stated  upon  this  monument.  I  am  informed  that  the  losses 
in  the  regiment  as  recorded  here  were  taken  from  the  records  of  tlie  adjutant 
general's  office.  Probably  these  figures  were  taken  from  my  report  of  our 
losses,  made  before  I  had  had  any  communication  with  members  of  the  regi- 
ment captured  and  in  hospitals,  and,  therefore,  without  the  means  of  distinguish- 
ing the  killed  and  wounded  from  the  captured.  I  recollect  I  was  called  upon 
for  such  a  report  immediately  after  the  close  of  the  battle,  and  the  best  I 
could  do  was  to  report  all  the  missing  as  captured,  unless  I  knew  they  were 
killed  or  wounded.  There  are  eleven  graves  of  members  of  this  regiment  in 
the  cemetery  here  at  Gettysburg.*  The  correct  number  of  our  killed  and 
wounded  in  this  memorable  battle  I  am  still  unable  to  state,  as  I  first  learned  of 
this  error  to-day. 

Our  regiment  was  unfortunate  in  the  position  assigned  it,  or  rather  where  it 
happened  to  fall,  here  on  this  low  ground,  where  nothing  could  be  seen  on, 
our  immediate  left,  or  in  front  of  the  left  wing  of  the  regiment. 

Our  brigade  was  composed  of  four  small  regiments,  reduced  probably  after 
the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  to  about  i,ooo  men,  and  consisting  of  the  One 
hundred  and  fifty-fourth  New  York,  One  hundred  and  thirty-fourth  New 
York,  Twenty-seventh  Pennsylvania  and  Seventy-third  Pennsylvania.  From 
these.  So  men  each  had  been  detailed  at  daybreak  of  July  ist,  to  form  an 
observing  party,  in  the  nature  of  a  picket  force,  to  march  along  the  left  flank 
of  our  corps  upon  its  march,  to  look  out  for  the  enemy  and  prevent  surprise. 
This  detail  left  us  probably  not  more  than  800  men  with  which  we  went  into 
action.    Of  these  the  Seventy-third  Pennsylvania  was  held  in  reserve,  back 


*  See  Roll  of  Honor,  page  233. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  105  i 

Ey  the  railroad,  in  the  outskirts  of  the  village.  About  3  o'clock  we  marched 
from  Cemetery  Hill  down  through  the  principal  street,  and  out  the  one  running 
parallel  to  the  one  near  us,  across  the  open  field  between,  and  past  the  brick 
house  which  you  see  there;  and  when  the  rear  of  the  line  had  crossed  this 
street  we  were  halted  and  came  to  a  front  with  the  One  hundred  and  thirty- 
fourth  on  the  right  in  what  was  a  wheatfield  then;  the  One  hundred  and  fifty- 
fourth  in  the  centre,  along  where  we  stand,  and  the  Twenty-seventh  Penn- 
sylvania on  the  left,  out  towards  the  brick  house.  This  higher  ground  which 
you  see  commencing  near  where  we  stand,  and  extending  on  past  tlie  brick 
house  and  across  the  street  beyond,  while  it  protected  the  left  of  our  line,  also 
prevented  its  firing,  except  obliquely  to  the  right.  Our  left  ought  to  have 
been  advanced  upon  this  higher  ground  where  we  could  observe  the  whole 
movement  of  the  enemy,  and  doubtless  would  have  been,  except  for  a  strong 
post  and  rail  fence  which  occupied  the  same  position  as  this  present  one.  The 
enemy  consisting  of  Early's  whole  division  came  down  upon  us  almost  before 
we  had  got  in  line. 

I  heard  cannon  and  some  musketry  firing  off  in  front  and  to  our  left  as  we 
marched  out  under  cover  of  this  high  ground,  and  believed  that  we  joined 
onto  something,  so  that  we  would  be  better  protected  on  our  left.  Even  from 
the  right  of  my  regiment,  where  I  immediately  went  as  soon  as  we  came  to  a 
frontand  the  firing  commenced,  I  could  see  nothing  of  how  far  the  enemy's  right 
extended  on  our  left.  I  relied  upon  orders  for  withdrawing  the  regiment  in 
case  we  were  in  danger  of  being  flanked  in  that  direction.  We  stopped  the 
enemy  and  were  holding  them  in  our  front,  but  their  line  so  far  overlapped  the 
One  hundred  and  thirty-fourth  on  our  right  that  they  swung  around  almost 
in  their  rear,  and  had  such  an  enfilading  fire  upon  them  and  our  whole  line,  that 
that  regiment  was  compelled  to  give  way,  and  I  immediately  gave  orders  for  my 
regiment  to  fall  back.  They  retreated  towards  the  left.  When  I  reached  a 
position  in  rear  of  where  the  Twenty-seventh  Pennsylvania  had  formed,  I  found 
that  they  had  been  withdrawn  without  my  knowledge,  and  that  the  enemy  had 
outflanked  us  to  a  much  greater  extent  upon  our  left  than  on  the  right;  that 
their  line  had  advanced  unopposed  down  the  road  and  across  the  open  field 
beyond.  The  ground  directly  in  rear  of  the  position  which  we  had  occupied 
was  cut  up  into  village  lots  surrounded  by  board  fences,  so  that  retreat  was 
greatly  impeded  in  that  direction.  The  men  being  almost  entirely  surrounded 
by  the  enemy,  who  outnumbered  them  more  than  five  to  one  and  were  right  in 
their  midst,  many  of  our  men  were  compelled  to  surrender. 

After  the  battle  I  was  informed  that  the  brigade  commander  sent  an  order 
for  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  and  One  hundred  and  thirty-fourth  to 
retreat  at  the  same  time  he  withdrew  the  Twenty-seventh  Pennsylvania.  This 
order  I  did  not  receive.  It  was  very  unfortunate  that  I  did  not,  as  I  had  con- 
fidently relied  upon  receiving  such  an  order  in  case  there  arose  unusual  danger 
from  the  direction  in  which  I  could  not  see. 

Now,  to  you  gentlemen.  Commissioners  of  the  Memorial  Association,  we 
present  this  monument.  The  trust  is  sacred.  It  represents  the  best  endeavor 
of  1,000  men,  the  blood  of  300  patriots  who  died  during  their  term  of  service 
upon  fields  of  battle,  in  hospitals,  or  in  prisons;  and,  "He  who  marks  the 


1052  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

sparrow's  fall "  alone  can  tell,  what  long  years  of  anxiety,  of  tears  of  sorrow, 
and  finally  of  broken  hearts,  of  the  widowed  and  the  fatherless.  I  will  not 
lift  the  veil  which  time  has  woven  around  mourning  hearts  and  vacant 
hearthstones.  I  trust  the  kind  Providence  who  knows  them  so  well  will  make 
them  His  special  care.  All  you  can  do  is  to  preserve  well  this,  their  memorial, 
which  we  now  intrust  to  your  keeping. 


ADDRESS  OF  HON.  J.  S.  WHIPPLE. 
Veterans  of  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  New  York: 

From  the  beginning  of  time  monuments  have  been  raised  and  dedicated  in 
all  lands  to  the  memory  of  great  men,  and  to  commemorate  great  events.  Monu- 
ments stand  in  all  our  parks  and  public  places,  raised  there  by  a  loving  and 
generous  people  to  keep  alive  the  deeds  and  public  services  of  statesmen, 
scholars  and  philanthropists.  We  see  bronze  or  marble  figures  of  Washing- 
ton, Lafayette,  Scott,  Jackson,  Webster,  Lincoln,  Grant  and  Hancock,  telling 
us  in  silent  language  of  the  services  rendered  and  heroic  deeds  done  by  these 
men,  whose  memory  an  appreciative  and  affectionate  people  will  always  love 
to  honor.  We  dedicate  to-day  a  monument  not  to  one  man,  not  to  one  soldier, 
not  to  one  civilian,  but  to  1,000  men.  A  thousand  brave  men  are  represented 
in  this  dedication,  whether  they  be  here,  living  witnesses  of  the  ceremony,  or 
sleeping  in  the  ground  upon  which  we  stand,  martyrs  to  the  cause  of  Freedom 
and  victims  of  that  awful  battle  fought  on  this  consecrated  spot  twenty-seven 
years  ago.  Whether  they  are  living  yet  out  among  the  grand  old  hills  of 
Cattaraugus  or  Chautauqua  where  the  apple  blossoms  make  the  whole  atmos- 
phere sweet  with  perfume  in  the  springtime,  or  whether  their  bleaching 
bones  are  piled  together  at  Belle  Island,  Libby  Prison,  or  Andersonville, 
whether  they  may  be  in  the  flesh  or  in  the  spirit, —  those  of  them  who  are  here 
dedicate  this  monument  to  them,  their  comrades,  to  mark  the  spot  where  they 
fought  and  died  for  home,  for  country,  and  for  a  Union,  one  and  inseparable. 

Well  do  we  remember  when  they  bravely  marched  away  to  the  grand,  wild 
music  of  war,  surrendering  all  they  held  dear  at  home,  ready  to  sacrifice  the 
last  drop  of  their  blood,  willing  to  give  up  life,  to  be  shattered  and  torn,  to  lie 
on  the  trodden  field  mangled  and  bleeding,  dying  with  thirst  and  agony.  They 
did  this  that  the  Nation  might  live;  that  the  government  founded  by  Wash- 
ington might  continue  to  exist;  that  our  flag  might  forever  wave  over  a  free 
people;  that  beneath  its  beautiful  folds  no  person  should  live  and  not  be  free; 
that  wherever  the  Stars  and  Stripes  float  all  might  know  it  as  an  emblem  of  a 
free  people,  a  united  Nation  with  financial  integrity  untarnished,  with  a 
currency  at  par,  and  taken  without  discount  among  all  civilized  nations. 

Our  soldiers  fought  that  four  million  human  beings  governed  by  the  lash 
might  be  forever  free,  and  that  we  might  to-day  enjoy  the  blessings  of  a  free 
country. 

I  believe  that  we  ought  to  regard  that  awful  struggle  with  a  feeling  that  it 
was  inevitable,  rather  than  with  feelings  of  bitterness.  We  must  recognize  in 
the  result,  great  as  the  cost  of  life  and  property  was,  immeasurable  benefits  to 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  io53 

I 
all  mankind.     It  was  a  fight  for  the  eternal  right,  and  it  will  forever  serve  as  a 
lesson  to  all  nations  that  the  right  must  prevail. 

I  do  not  wonder  that  from  time  to  time  since  this  spot  was  made  sacred  by 
the  glorious  battle  which  was  waged  between  those  mighty  hosts  twenty-seven 
years  ago,  people  come  here  from  the  North  and  South  to  dedicate  the  monu- 
ments which  now  mark  this  battlefield.  I  do  not  wonder  that  they  come  from 
the  farm  and  the  workshop,  from  the  hillside  and  the  valley,  from  the  forge 
and  the  spindle,  men  of  every  nationality,  now  merged  into  one  nationality, 
American. 

It  was  thus  the  soldier  came  from  every  nook  and  corner,  from  the  dusty  marts 
of  trade  and  commerce,  from  the  western  prairies,  from  the  rugged,  pine-clad 
hills  of  Maine,  and  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  from  all  over  this 
broad  land  to  take  part  in  this  grand  struggle  which  settled  the  question  of 
national  life  and  liberty. 

Every  hamlet  and  village  has  its  war-worn  veterans  to  tell  the  story  of 
Gettysburg,  that  field  of  daring  achievements.  "  Every  village  churchyard 
has  its  green  mounds  that  need  no  storied  monuments  to  clothe  them  with  a 
peculiar  consecration;  graves  that  hold  the  dust  of  heroes;  graves  that  all  men 
approach  with  reverent  steps;  graves  out  of  whose  solemn  silence  whisper  in- 
spiring voices  telling  the  young  from  generation  to  generation  how  great  is 
their  country's  worth  and  cost,  and  how  grand  it  was  to  die  for  it." 

The  people  come  here  from  all  places  and  from  all  classes,  meeting  on  a 
common  level  with  one  thought  and  one  purpose,  to  do  honor  to  the  memory 
of  brave  men  who  engaged  in  that  awful  battle  which  decided  a  nation's  fate. 

We  remember  the  partings  in  the  years  gone  by ;  we  remember  the  soldiers  as 
they  marched  away;  and  as  we  think,  the  shadows  come  back  again,  and  we 
live  the  old  time  over  as  in  a  dream. 

Oh!  If  the  Nation's  soldier  dead,  sleeping  to-day  upon  a  hundred  battlefields, 
sleeping  where  they  fell  in  the  midst  of  dreadful  carnage,  under  the  heat  of 
Southern  skies,  in  the  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  and  those  who  perished  on 
the  march,  in  the  swamps,  and  fell  by  disease,  and  all  the  thousands  who  heroic- 
ally met  death  by  slow  disease  in  Southern  prisons,  and  died  with  pictures 
of  home  flitting  before  their  dying  eyes,  and  the  murmuring  sound  of  cool, 
rippling  brooks  coming  to  their  dying  ears,  could  only  see  the  greatness  and 
grandeur,  and  the  future  of  this  Union  which  they  saved,  they  would  feel  as 
we  do,  that  the  sacrifice  was  not  in  vain. 

The  War  of  the  Rebellion  meant  more  to  us  as  a  people  and  the  world,  than 
any  other  war  has  to  any  people.  Soldiers  in  other  countries  from  time  to 
time  have  fought  at  the  command  of  monarchs,  priests  and  kings,  to  maintain 
a  place  am^ong  nations  and  for  conquest.  They  fought  for  glittering  gold; 
they  fought  for  booty  and  beauty;  they  followed  their  leaders  over  Alpine 
snows  and  to  the  foot  of  the  Pyramids  and  across  seas  as  paid  hirelings  to 
keep  in  power  some  monarch  who  had  wrongly  usurped  a  throne.  Other 
nations  have  run  red  with  blood,  and  wars  have  laid  waste  many  fair  lands. 
No  soldier  ever  fought  from  such  pure  motives  as  ours;  no  soldier  ever  bore 
arms  in  defence  of  grander  principles  than  were  involved  in  the  War  of  the 
RebeUion. 


1054  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Every  officer  who  commanded  and  every  private  who  carried  a  musket  should 
live  in  history  and  in  the  hearts  of  our  people,  as  long  as  this  "  government 
of  the  people,  for  the  people,  and  by  the  people  "  shall  live  among  the  nations 
of  the  earth. 

Where  soldiers  fought  for  gold,  ours  fought  for  homes;  where  others  fought 
to  satisfy  the  ambitions  of  a  king,  ours  fought  to  preserve  the  Union;  where 
others  fought  for  conquest,  ours  fought  to  make  all  men  free;  where  others 
fought  to  carry  the  ensign  of  ambitious  monarchs  into  foreign  lands,  oui 
own  brave  men  shed  the  blood  of  human  beings  only  to  quell  secession  and 
to  keep  the  old  flag  flying  proudly  in  its  place,  without  a  star  obliterated  or  a 
etripe  erased. 

This  is  a  glorious  battlefield,  the  greatest  the  world  has  ever  known;  greatest 
in  point  of  numbers  engaged  on  either  side,  greatest  in  loss  of  life  sustained, 
greatest  in  results  obtained,  for  it  decided  the  fate  of  the  grandest  nation  on 
the  face  of  the  earth. 

If  this  day  does  not  mean  to  us  the  renewal  of  patriotic  love;  if  we  do  not 
say  "  As  these  men  fought  and  died  for  liberty  and  truth,  so  we  will  Uve  for 
them;  as  they  fought  and  died  to  vindicate  the  honor  of  the  country,  we  will 
live  to  preserve  it," — if  it  does  not  mean  this,  it  means  little. 

"  Still  the  message  of  those  brave  deaths  is  one  of  life,  a  life  of  broad  Ameri- 
canism and  grand  devotion  to  our  country's  interests." 

We  dedicate  this  beautiful  monument  to  the  memory  of  the  brave  men  who 
composed  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteers. 
To  the  memory  of  all  those  men,  living  or  dead,  who  left  their  friends  and 
homes  up  in  dear  old  Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus,  left  the  green  fields  through 
which  many  of  them  were  never  more  to  wander. 

We  do  not  forget  to-day  any  of  them,  and  especially  do  we  remember  those 
who  in  the  first  day  of  that  great  battle  were  surprised  and  captured  upon 
this  spot  Our  very  souls  are  now  wrung  with  agony  for  them  who  in  the 
long  terrible  months  thereafter  languished  and  perished  in  that  hell  upon 
earth,  Andersonville.  Better  were  it  for  them  had  they  died  here  on  this  conse- 
crated ground;  died  here  amid  the  tumult  and  roar;  died  here  underneath  our 
old  banner,  victorious  in  the  greatest  battle  the  world  has  ever  known. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH.  1 
By  Comrade  E.  D.  Northrup. 

The  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunfeers,  was 
recruited  from  the  counties  of  Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus,  the  men  enlisting 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  It  was  organized  at  Jamestown,  N.  Y., 
where  it  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  September  24,  1862. 

Under  command  of  Col.  Patrick  H.  Jones  it  left  the  State  September  30th, 
for  the  seat  of  war.  Colonel  Jones  had  already  served  with  distinction  as 
major  of  the  Thirty-seventh  New  York,  from  .which  regiment  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  colonelcy  of  his  new  command.  1 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1055 

Dn  arriving  at  the  front  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  was  assigned 
to  the  Eleventh  Corps,  and  was  placed  in  Buschbeck's  Brigade  of  von  Stein- 
wehr's  (Second)  Division. 

The  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  New  York  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville,  numbering  then  590  men  in  line  of  battle.  It  held  its  posi- 
tion at  Dowdall's  Tavern,  where  with  Wiedrich's  Battery  it  really  served  as 
headquarters  guard,  until  after  all  the  rest  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  had  retired 
to  the  woods  east  of  them,  and  then  retreated  in  good  order.  Many  of  the 
Seventy-third  Pennsylvania  retreating,  fell  in  behind  them  and  supported  them 
as  they  lay  and  fought  in  their  breastworks.  Its  losses  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
captured  were  so  large  that  the  regiment  numbered  only  about  300  men  when 
in  line  of  battle  at  Gettysburg. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  50  men  of  the  regiment,  together  with  50  of  the 
Seventy-third  Pennsylvania  were  detailed,  under  the  command  of  Maj.  L.  D. 
Warner,  of  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  New  York,  to  make  a  recon- 
noissance  out  to  Strykersville,  and  thus  were  not  engaged  in  the  first  day's 
fight  at  Gettysburg. 

The  Second  Division  was  the  last  one  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  to  reach 
Cemetery  Hill  by  the  Emmitsburg  Pike.  The  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth 
New  York  arrived  there  at  about  4  p.  m.,  on  the  double-quick,  filed  into  the 
cemetery  and  cleaned  guns,  and  immediately  (with  the  Twenty-seventh  Penn- 
sylvania and  One  hundred  and  thirty-fourth  New  York,  only,)  double-quicked 
down  through  the  town,  out  on  the  Harrisburg  Road,  and  formed  line  of  battle 
where  its  monument  now  stands,  a  short  distance  north  of  Stevens  Run,  At 
this  time  the  broken  lines  of  Schurz's  troops  were  in  full  retreat,  and  about 
as  soon  as  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  New  York  (with  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Pennsylvania  on  its  left  and  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-fourth  New 
York  on  its  right)  had  formed  line  of  battle,  the  enemy  in  overwhelming 
numbers  fell  upon  them,  in  front  and  on  both  flanks. 

Again  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  New  York  held  its  ground,  receiving 
no  order  to  retreat  whatever,  the  men  firing  six  to  nine  shots  apiece  with  their* 
Enfield  rifles.  Thus  nearly  all  possible  chance  to  retreat  was  cut  off,  and 
all  but  15  men  and  3  officers  were  captured.  These  officers  were  Lieut 
Col.  Daniel  B.  Allen,  then  in  command  of  the  regiment,  Capt.  M.  B.  Cheney 
and  Lieut.  James  W.  Bird,  of  Company  G,  who  escaped  by  running  at  the 
very  last  under  the  deadly  fire  of  the  enemy. 

Capt.  M.  B.  Cheney,  on  his  way,  came  upon  the  National  and  State  colors 
of  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-fourth  New  York  lying  on  the  ground,  mistook 
them  for  those  of  his  own  regiment,*  and  bore  them  safely  off  from  the  field 
through  a  perfect  hail  storm  of  minie  balls,  receiving  a  severe  gun  shot  wound 
just  as  he  was  crossing  the  railroad,  which  wound  so  disabled  him  that  he  finally 
had  to  reluctantly  submit  to  discharge  from  the  service.  Col.  (Gen.)  P.  H. 
Jones  was  then  a  paroled  prisoner,  wounded  and  captured  at  Chancellorsville. 

♦And,  as  it  is  told,  a  soldier  of  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-fourth  New  York,  by  a 
similar  mistake,  carried  off  the  national  colors  of  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth,  this 
soldier  being  wounded  also.    [Ed. 


1056  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Lieut.  James  W.  Bird  bore  off  the  State  colors  of  the  One  hundred  and  fifty- 
fourth  New  York. 

The  remnant  of  the  regiment,  including  the  reconnoitering  party,  combined 
with  the  few  remaining  men  of  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-fourth  New  York, 
did  gallant  service  on  the  2d  of  July  on  Cemetery  Hill,  in  support  of  Wiedrich's 
Battery  and  in  repelling  the  assault  of  the  Louisiana  Tigers. 

After  being  reinforced  by  exchanged  prisoners  and  convalescents,  the  One 
hundred  and  fifty-fourth  New  York  was  transferred  to  Lookout  Valley,  Tenn., 
in  October,  1863.  It  was  engaged  soon  after  in  the  battles  of  Wauhatchie, 
Missionary  Ridge,  and  the  march  to  Knoxville  to  relieve  General  Burnside. 

As  a  part  of  the  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Twentieth  Corps,  the 
regiment  fought  almost  continuously  throughout  the  Atlanta  campaign,  sus- 
taining its  severest  loss,  in  proportion  to  numbers,  on  the  8th  of  May,  1864, 
in  the  attempt  of  General  Geary  to  capture  Dug  Gap,  on  Rocky  Face  Ridge, 
near  Dalton,  Ga. 

Increased  by  90  recruits,  the  regiment  made  the  March  to  the  Sea,  and 
served  through  Sherman's  campaign  in  the  Carolinas.  The  services  and 
experiences  of  the  regiment  were  of  the  most  varied  and  interesting  character, 
and  its  record  one  of  the  best. 

At  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  July  20,  1864,  it  (and  the  Thirty-third 
New  Jersey)  received  the  first  onslaught  of  Hood's  assault.  At  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge,  the  regiment  formed  the  extreme  left  of  Grant's  army  on 
Citico  Creek,  a  perilous  position,  in  close  proximity  to  General  Cleburne's 
forces  that  intervened  between  the  regiment  and  General  Sherman's  column. 
Colonel  Buschbeck,  of  the  Twenty-seventh  Pennsylvania,  commanding  the 
brigade,  with  all  of  its  regiments  except  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-fourth 
and  One  hundred  and  fifty-fourth  New  York,  joined  General  Sherman's 
forces,  leaving  Colonel  Jones  in  command  of  the  remainder;  and 
Corp.  Thomas  R.  Aldrich  of  Company  B,  was  the  extreme  left 
of  all.  He  was  captured  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  wounded  while  hold- 
ing the  colors.  The  regiment  did  gallant  service  in  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge,  Colonel  Jones  having  been  exchanged,  being  in  command. 
When  mustered  out  at  Bladensburg,  Md.,  June  11,  1865,  the  regiment  numbered 
only  303  men.  Of  its  prisoners,  76  died  in  Confederate  military  prisons,  (53 
in  Richmond,  Va.,  and  23  in  Andersonville)  or  immediately  after  parole,  from 
the  effects  of  their  imprisonment;  and  76  were  killed  in  battle  or  died  of 
wounds  so  received.    Of  these,  42  fell  at  Chancellorsville,  and  1 1  at  Gettysburg. 

Colonel  Jones  was  promoted  brigadier  general.  May  9,  1865,  and  Lieut.  Col. 
Lewis  D.  Warner  was  made  colonel  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Allen,  who  commanded  the  regiment  at  Gettysburg,  resigned  September  30, 
1864. 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT. 


P.  J.  SBVERENCK,  PHOTO. 


157th    new   YORK   INFANTRY. 
In  fields  north  ot  the  town,  near  the  Carlisle  Hoad. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  io57 

(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

157th  new  YORK  INFANTRY 

1st  brigade 

3rd  division 

llTH  CORPS 

300  yards  in  advance 

of  this  position  were 

Killed 

4  officers,  23   MEN 2^ 

Wounded 

8  officers,    158  MEN 166 

Captured 

6   officers,    108   MEN II4 

Total  casualties  —  307 

July  i,  1863. 

(Right  Side.) 

Mustered  in 

September  19,  1862. 

Mustered  out 

July  10,  1865. 

(Left  Side.) 

The  advance  position 

is  designated  by 

a  marker. 

(INSCRIPTIONS.) 

(Front.) 

Erected  by  the  survivors 

of  the  IS7TH  Regt.,  N.  Y.  Vols. 

IN  MEMORY  of  THEIR  GALLANT  COMRADES 
WHO   FELL  HERE  JULY   I,    1863. 

1ST  Brigade,  30  Division,  iith  Corps 

(Reverse.) 

Gettysburg 

Lost  here  18  officers  and 

291  enlisted  men,  reducing  Reg't. 

to   100  FOR  DUTY. 

(Right  Side.)  (Left  Side.) 

Chancellorsville  Camp  Milton 

Gettysburg  Honey  Hill 

Hagerstown  Deveaux  Neck,. 

Fort  Wagner  Dingle's  Mill 

Siege  of  Charleston  Sumpterville 

I  &  2  John's  Island  Boykins'  Mill 

Rafting  Creek 
(Note. —  This  regiment  has  two  monuments;  one  erected  by  the  State  and  one  by  the 
regiment. ) 

67 


1058  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

157th  regiment  INFANTRY. 

September  8,  1886. 

Address  by  Col.  James  C.  Carmichael. 

Comrades,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

No  one  regrets  more  sincerely  than  I,  that  on  this  day,  which  promises  the 
richest  of  all  our  annual  gatherings,  and  at  the  place  sanctified  by  so  many 
and  terrible  memories,  our  orator  is  wanting.  We  had  expected  that  that  gal- 
lant soldier  and  marvelously  gifted  and  eloquent  orator.  Gen.  Stewart  L.  Wood- 
ford, would  be  present;  but  ill  health  has  robbed  him  and  us  of  the  pleasure. 
My  task  is  to  fill  in  no  part  the  place  made  vacant,  but  rather  to  talk  to  you 
and  voice  your  silent  feelings;  hence  for  the  greater  part  we  shall  confine 
ourselves,  and  that  briefly,  to  reminiscences.  There  is  a  particular  fondness 
among  old  soldiers  for  reunions.  The  element  of  the  heroic  has  not  died  out. 
At  our  camp-fires  we  light  the  old  embers  of  patriotic  feeling  that  glowed 
so  brightly  more  than  two  decades  ago,  and  may  God  grant  that  they  may 
never  burn  out.  At  this,  our  twenty-first  reunion,  we  are  brought  nearer  to 
the  life  of  long  ago.  Dread  scenes  must  rise  before  our  eyes  as  heroic  action 
illumines  every  place;  therefore,  Gettysburg  is  resplendent.  But  ere  our  minds 
rest  upon  this  heroic  field,  go  back  with  me  in  memory  to  the  time  when  we 
left  our  homes,  and  where  the  griefs  and  hopes  of  each  must  ever  remain  sacred. 

Comrades,  you  will  remember  that  bright  September  day,  in  1862,  when  we 
were  all  gathered  together  in  the  beautiful  village  of  Hamilton,  and  dofifed 
the  civilian's  garb  and  donned  the  Federal  blue  —  when  our  clothes  fitted 
us  so  wondrously  well.  You  remember  how  we  were  feasted  at  Peterboro, 
carrying  with  us  from  there  the  parting  token  from  the  philanthropic  Gerrit 
Smith.  Yes,  we  were  feasted,  too,  at  Canastota,  and  there  pjirted  with  friends, 
sad-hearted,  who  looked  through  eyes  bedimmed  with  tears.  Can  you  not 
recall  our  trip  to  Albany  and  our  reception  there,  receiving  from  Governor 
Morgan  the  usual  compliment  that  we  were  "  the  best  regiment  ever  reviewed 
there? " 

Yes,  memory  cannot  fail  you.  You  will  also  remember,  too,  how  we  were 
exhibited  at  Astor  House  Park,  with  its  wondrous  approaches,  and  intricate 
arrangements.  Our  colonel  probably  felt  like  that  colonel  of  another  regi- 
ment who  said  there  were  only  two  men  who  could  lead  a  regiment  out  of 
that  park  without  great  loss  of  life;  General  Scott  was  one,  and  modesty  for- 
bade him  from  mentioning  the  other.  We  managed,  however,  to  get  out  of 
that  park  and  on  to  Philadelphia.  As  we  went  on  we  were  gradually  taught 
that  the  soldier's  life  was  not  one  of  feasting  or  of  ease ;  for  each  place  brought 
us  plainer  fare,  and  each  change  of  cars  plainer  coaches.  We  started  in  first- 
class  coaches.  We  passed  from  cushions  of  plush  to  plain  board  seats;  and 
from  board  seats  to  cattle  cars;  and  even  those,  a  month  later,  would  have  been 
a  luxury  to  the  same  men  tramping  through  the  Virginia  wilds.    We  reached 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1059 

Washington  and  were  ordered  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  McClellan, 
and  assigned  to  the  Eleventh  Army  Corps. 

We  pass  over  the  intervening  time  till  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  which 
we  mention  because  we  can  but  feel  that  a  great  injustice  was  done  to 
the  Eleventh  Corps.  Up  to  that  time  the  fame  of  the  troops  comprising  the 
Eleventh  Army  Corps  was  so  great  that  civilians  could  not  understand,  after 
the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  why  the  corps  could  not  withstand  the  entire 
army  of  Stonewall  Jackson.  Some  of  you  remember  that  one  of  the  brigade 
ofificers-of-the-day  was  a  member  of  this  regiment,  and  the  other  a  member  of 
the  One  hundred  and  nineteenth  New  York.  They  had  charge  of  the  picket 
line  the  night  before  Jackson's  charge  occurred,  and  until  the  afternoon  of  the 
next  day.  During  this  time  both  of  the  officers,  by  message  and  in  person, 
informed  the  commander  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  that  the  enemy  were  moving 
in  force, —  artillery,  cavalry,  and  infantry.  All  these  messages  received  the 
reply  that  we  were  green  troops,  more  scared  than  hurt.  The  pickets  that 
relieved  ours,  in  the  afternoon  of  May  2d,  were  captured,  and  we  barely  had 
time  to  rejoin  our  commands  before  the  whirlwind  of  battle  was  upon  us  in 
the  open  field,  with  woods  in  front  to  protect  our  enemies,  and  our  men  ex- 
posed on  all  sides  to  a  merciless  cross-fire.  The  confusion  that  followed  beg- 
gars description.  Pack-mules  were  running,  loaded  with  camp  equipage,  the 
music  of  camp  kettles  rattling  a  lively  tattoo  against  each  other.  Everything 
was  in  wild  confusion.  The  opportunity  was  lost,  which  had  it  been  seized 
by  our  commanders  twenty-four  hours  before  would  have  shortened  the  period 
of  the  war,  and  might  have  saved  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  It  was  a  great 
compliment,  indeed,  to  the  Eleventh  Corps  to  have  military  men,  cognizant  of 
affairs,  think  for  a  moment  that  we  (12,000  men)  could  stand  against  that 
avalanche  of  Stonewall  Jackson's  army  (over  33,000). 

You  well  know  the  gallant  and  scholarly  commander  of  the  One  hundred 
and  nineteenth  New  York,  who  had  been  trained  in  war  in  the  best  army  of 
Europe,  had  not  time  to  form  his  regiment  before  he  fell.  Such  surprises 
were  not  the  exception;  others  could  be  mentioned.  Can  any  one  believe  that 
those  were  always  made  against  new  troops,  and  never  upon  men  trained  in 
war?  Ignorant  of  these  facts  the  Northern  press,  anxious  for  any  possible 
reason  to  explain  the  cause  of  defeat,  charged  the  Eleventh  Corps  with 
cowardice,  and^  even  officers  and  men  of  other  corps  jeeringly  spoke  of  it  as 
"  the  flying  crescent." 

Writhing  under  the  unjust  charge  of  cowardice  the  Eleventh  Corps  came  on 
to  Gettysburg,  and  again  faced  fearful  odds;  for  in  the  first  day's  fight  the 
First  and  Eleventh  Corps  alone  were  marshalled  against  30,000  of  Lee's  army. 
Who  can  say  they  did  not  hold  their  ground  well  against  the  enemy?  The 
numbers  of  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-seventh  had  been  reduced  from  1,000 
to  less  than  500  men,  by  fighting  and  the  exposures  of  hard  service,  at  the 
time  they  reached  Gettysburg;  and  as  they  marched  forward  that  day  through 
the  pouring  rain  storm,  they  soon  met  on  this  field  a  fiercer  storm  of  shrieking 
shell  and  merciless  bullets.  In  their  fighting  on  that  first  day,  309  men  were 
killed,  wounded  and  missing.  Thirty-three  fell  in  line  of  battle,  marking 
the  extreme  advance  of  the  battalion  with  dead  men.    We  question  whether 


io6o  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

any  regiment,  in  open  field  in  battle  line,  has  a  more  glorious  spot  to  honor. 
We  doubt  whether  any  regiment  has  a  more  glorious  roll. 

We  are  gathered  on  this  spot  to-day,  it  may  be  for  the  last  time,  but  the 
present  occasion  can  be  made  profitable  from  the  abundant  material  supplied  in 
those  former  days.  Since  then  what  changes  have  occurred,  and  what  history 
has  been  written.  How  the  rolls  of  the  veterans  have  gradually  been  depleted  by 
the  levies  called  to  muster  "  across  the  river."  How  many  of  our  great  com- 
manders are  now  encamped  on  that  further  shore.  The  profession  of  war 
is  thrown  aside  by  the  survivors,  who  have  been  absorbed  in  the  various  call- 
ings of  civil  life.  To  these  there  is  little  left  to  distinguish  them  from  other 
men  but  their  consciousness  of  duty  well  performed,  and  the  marked  gratitude 
of  the  people  who  hail  the  living  as  their  champions,  and  piously  decorate 
with  choicest  flowers  the  last  resting  places  of  their  soldier  dead. 

To-day  we  unveil  our  tribute  to  our  fallen  comrades.  Let  the  everlasting 
granite  stand,  and  may  its  words  tell  to  coming  generations  through  all  ages, 
the  story  of  soldiers'  love  for  soldiers.  May  it  be  a  record  of  their  appreciation 
for  the  sacrifices  of  their  comrades.  Sentineled  by  the  stars  of  night  may  it 
safely  rest  here,  while  the  trees  sigh  their  lament  and  the  dew  drops  sparkle  like 
jewels  in  the  moonbeams  that  illumine  their  lonely  graves. 

But  such  honor  to  our  comrades  brings  honor  to  us  as  well.  I  have  read 
that  in  a  village  of  Weimer,  Germany,  there  is  a  graceful  monument  to  the 
memory  of  Germany's  two  great  poets.  On  the  granite  pedestal  are  two  figures 
of  the  poets  in  heroic  size.  In  the  hand  of  each  is  a  laurel  crown  which  each 
is  offering  to  the  other.  So,  to-day,  while  we  are  placing  our  mark  of  honor 
over  the  graves  of  our  heroic  comrades,  silently  they  are  extending  to  us  a 
wreath  of  laurel  to  adorn  our  deeds  and  glorify  the  memory  of  the  days  of 
long  ago. 


LETTER  FROM  CAPT.  J.  H.  CONNOLLY. 

"Lithomia,  Ga.,  Aug.  5,  1886. 
"  Chas.  O.  Newton,  Cor.  Sec'y,  One  hundred  and  fifty-seventh  Regt'  Ass'n, 
Homer,  N.  Y.: 
"My  Dear  Sir: — In  looking  over  the  Atlanta  Constitution  to-day  I  saw 
your  letter  addressed  to  Colonel  Stephens,  A.  G.  of  the  State,  in  which 
you  inquire  for  the  address  of  Col.  J.  B.  Estes.  Colonel  Estes  lives  at  Gaines- 
ville, Hall  Co.,  Ga.,  but  he  was  not  in  command  of  the  Forty-fourth  Georgia 
Regiment  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Lieut.  Col.  S.  P.  Lumkin  commanded 
the  regiment  up  to  the  time  he  fell,  mortally  wounded,  just  as  we  were  crossing 
the  Pike  into  the  wheatfield  where  so  many  of  the  gallant  One  hundred 
and  fifty-seventh  went  down.  After  Lumkin  fell,  Captain  (afterwards  Colonel) 
Peebles  took  command.  I  commanded  Co.  E,  Forty-fourth  Georgia,  in  that 
battle,  and  among  the  prisoners  who  fell  into  our  hands  there  was  one  Captain 
Glass,  (I  think  that  was  his  name)  who  was  badly  wounded  and  was  suffering 
for  water,  as  he  lay  in  the  wheatfield ;  and  as  I  passed  him  I  gave  him  my  own 
canteen  of  water.     Is  Captain  G.  still  living? 


J.  B.  LYO«  PKINT. 


\57Th    new   YORK    INFANTRY. 


F.   J.  SEVERENCE,  PHOTO. 


Near  the  Mummasburg  Road,  and  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  line,  first  day  This 
memorial  was  erected  by  the  One  Hundred  and  Fitty-seventh  New  York  Veteran  Associaiion.  before 
the  law  was  pa-^sed  providing:  for  regimental  monuments. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  io6i 

It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  meet  with  you  on  the  8th  of  September, 
and,  if  possible,  I  intend  to  be  there.  No  doubt  there  would  be  a  large  number 
of  those  from  the  South  who  would  be  delighted  to  meet  your  regiment  at 
Gettysburg;  but  most  of  the  field  ofScers  are  dead,  and  many  members  of  the 
regiment  are  in  circumstances  that  will  not  admit  of  the  time  and  expense 
of  the  trip.  I  have  had  a  strong  desire  to  visit  this  historic  battlefield,  and 
now  since  I  have  an  opportunity  of  meeting  with  the  men  who  faced  us  so 
bravely  on  that  day  of  strife,  my  desires  are  doubly  strong,  and  if  circum- 
stances will  allow,  I  will  be  there,  and  perhaps  many  others. 

"  I  am,  sir,  very  truly  yours, 

"J.  H.  CONNOLLY." 

[Note. —  Captain  Connolly  no  doubt  refers  to  Lieutenant  (afterwards  Captain)  Gates, 
of  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-seventh,  who  was  badly  wounded  and  left  on  the  field,  and 
who  distinctly  recalls  the  act  of  Captain  Connolly  in  handing  him  a  canteen  of  water.] 


HISTORICAL  NOTES. 

The  One  hundred  and  fifty-seventh  New  York  Volunteers  was  raised  in 
Cortland  and  Madison  Counties,  five  companies  from  each  county.  Companies 
C,  D,  E,  H  and  K  were  from  Cortland;  and  A,  B,  F,  I  and  G  from  Madison. 
The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Hamilton,  Madison  County.  When  it  reached 
the  seat  of  war  (Washington),  September  30,  1862,  it  numbered  1,050  men; 
when  mustered  out  of  service  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  S.  C,  (near  Charleston)  July 
10,  1865,  only  about  one-third  of  its  original  numbers  were  borne  upon  its 
rolls,  all  told.  The  losses  were  from  those  killed  in  action,  died  of  disease  and 
wounds,  discharged  on  certificates  of  disability,  desertions,  suicides,  etc. 

The  deaths  in  battle,  and  from  disease  or  from  accidents,  included  9  officers 
and  191  enlisted  men.  At  no  time  during  its  term  of  service  did  a  pestilence  or 
any  contagious  disease  deplete  its  strength,  a  fact  speaking  well  for  sanitary 
discipline.  To  be  sure  there  were  isolated  cases  of  contagious  diseases,  but 
prompt  action  of  the  medical  staff  averted  the  greater  danger.  Few  regi- 
ments were  better  favored  with  officers  having  the  true  interests  of  their 
men  at  heart,  than  was  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-seventh. 

The  One  hundred  and  fifty-seventh  disbanded  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  at  which 
time  it  was  resolved  into  a  regimental  association. 

The  regiment  was  engaged  or  present  at  the  following  actions :  Chancellors- 
ville,  Va.;  Gettysburg,  Pa.;  Charleston  Harbor;  Bombardment  of  Sumter,  S. 
C;  John's  Island,  S.  C;  Camp  Finnegan,  Fla.;  Honey  Hill,  S.  C;  Coosa- 
whatchie,  S.  C;  Deveaux  Neck,  S.  C;  and  Dingle's  Mills,  S.  C. 


io62  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

1st  u.  s.  sharpshooters 

(Berdan's) 
2d  brig.  1st  DIV.  3d  CORPS 

(Reverse.) 

One  hundred  sharpshooters 

reconnoitred  to  this  spot 

ABOUT  12  M.,  July  2,  1863, 

losing  here  nineteen  men. 

They  first  developed 

the  enemy's  threatened  attack 

UPON  our  left  and  rear. 

July  3,  the  regiment  supported 

batteries  along  Cemetery  Ridge. 

On  the  4TH  it  picketed 

and  skirmished  near  the 

Peach  Orchard. 

Killed  6.    Wounded  37. 

Captured  6.    Total  49. 

(Right  Side.) 

This  Regiment 

was  recruited  in  1 86 1 

FROM 

FIVE  Northern  States 

,  .  and  ,  HAD 

FOUR  New  York  Companies 
(A,  B,,D,  AND  H.) 
Served  in  ; 

3D,   5TH,AND  2ND   CoRPS 

participating  in 
!  forty-three  battles 

AND  skirmishes 

from  Yorktown  (1862) 
TO  Appomattox  (1865) 

(Left  Side.) 

This  Monument 

is  dedicated  to 

.the  brave  men 

of  this  command 

who  fell  at 

Gettysburg 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT. 


P.  J.  SEVEKENCE,  PHOTO. 


COMPANIES   A,  B,   D,  AND   H,   NEW   YORK   1ST   UNITED  STATES  SHARPSHOOTERS. 

In   the  woods  west   o'C   the   Emmitsburg   Road.    Scene  of  the  encounter  with  Wilcox's  Alabama  Brigade 
during  the  reconnoissance  on  July  2d,  which  disclosed  the  flank  movement  of  Longstreet's  Corps 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1063 


«  DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

FOUR  NEW  YORK  COMPANIES. 
A,  B,  D,  AND  H,  OF  THE  FIRST  REGIMENT  U.  S.  SHARPSHOOTERS. 

July  2,  1889. 

Address  by  Charles  E.  Graves. 
Comrades; 

Owing  to  the  absence  of  the  President  of  this  Association,  the  duty  devolves 
on  me  of  opening  the  exercises  on  this  occasion.  I  will  do  so  by  briefly 
sketching  the  formation  and  work  of  the  Association.  At  a  meeting  of  several 
of  the  survivors  of  the  four  New  York  companies  held  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  on 
the  27th  day  of  June,  1888,  an  association  was  formed  to  be  known  as  the 
Veteran  Association  of  the  First  Regiment  of  the  United  States  Sharpshooters. 
The  organization  was  perfected  by  the  election  of  temporary  officers  —  John 
W.  Coates  as  chairman,  and  C.  J.  Buchanan  as  secretary. 

Five  trustees  were  elected  to  select  a  design  for  a  monument,  and  also 
an  inscription  for  the  same.  Charles  J.  Buchanan,  Fred.  H.  Johnson,  John 
W.  Coates,  John  D.  Acker,  and  John  E.  Hetherington  were  chosen  as  trustees. 

In  accordance  with  a  resolution  adopted,  C.  J.  Buchanan,  C.  E.  Graves,  and 
J.  W.  Kenny  visited  the  battlefield  of  Gettysburg  on  the  ist,  2d,  and  3d  of  July, 
1888,  to  attend  any  meeting  that  might  be  held  there  by  the  survivors  of  the 
First  and  Second  Regiments,  and  report  to  this  Association  what  action,  if 
any,  should  be  taken  as  the  result  of  the  meeting  so  held.  A  number  of  the 
survivors  of  both  regiments  did  assemble,  and  formed  a  corps  organization, 
with  Gen.  H.  Berdan,  president;  Capt.  Frank  E.  Marble,  vice-president;  and 
Capt.  Richard  W.  Tyler,  secretary. 

On  the  return  of  the  committee,  the  proceedings  of  the  Gettysburg  meeting 
were  fully  discussed  and  action  thereon  delayed  until  a  conference  could  be  held 
with  the  New  York  State  Commissioners  on  Gettysburg  Monuments.  The 
result  of  this  conference  showed  that  a  corps  organization  was  impracticable, 
as  the  fund  of  $1,500  appropriated  by  New  York  State  could  only  be  secured 
by  a-  strictly  New  York  State  monument. 

In  order  to  secure  this  sum,  the  New  York  Commissioners  were  requested 
to  confer  with  no  one  but  the  trustees  of  this  Association  relative  to  the  pro- 
posed monument  to  be  erected. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  3d  day  of  October,  1888,  the  following  officers  were 
chosen:  President,  J.  W.  Coates;  Vice-President,  Charles  E.  Graves;  Treasurer, 
Charles  Donnelly;  Secretary,  Charles  J.  Buchanan. 

At  subsequent  meetings  of  the  Association,  various  plans  and  specifications 
were  submitted,  and  finally  this  chaste  and  beautiful  design,  which  is  now 
before  us,  was  chosen. 

Comrades,  nationality  is  a  sublime,  a  solemn,  a  sacred  thing.  It  is  erected 
on  sacrifices  and  sealed  with  blood. 

It  is  a  purchase  made  with  loyal  and  self-surrendered  lives.  It  is  a  patri- 
mony watered  with  tears,  preserved  by  faithful  and  patriotic  labors,  and  steadied 


1064  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

and  maintained  by  men  who  dare  to  be  just,  and  by  citizens  who  are  con- 
stant at  all  costs.  To  such  a  nationality  we  are  pledged  to  stand  by  the  toils 
and  trials,  the  sufferings  and  sacrifices  of  the  past. 

And  let  his  right  hand  wither  and  his  frame  be  palsied  who  dares  with 
sacrilegious  hands  to  touch  with  purpose  of  ruin  or  dismemberment  for  sec- 
tional interest  or  party  pride  or  personal  aggrandizement,  one  stone  of  the 
vast  Cyclopean  arch  which  giant  heads  conceived  and  giant  hands  have  moulded 
and  cemented  togetTier  —  our  incomparable  and  imperishable  Union. 

Martyrdom  for  duty  lifts  a  man  out  of  days,  to  become  a  citizen  of  the  ages; 
and  by  our  office  and  act  to-day,  we  embalm  the  fame  and  memory  of  the 
martyrs  in  a  glorious  cause. 

We  think  of  them  at  rest,  some  laid  in  sudden  graves,  with  the  requiem  of 
the  cannon's  roar  or  muffied  drums,  and  some  with  gentle  shrouding  by 
kindred  hands  among  their  kindred  dead;  of  those  who  went  down  in  the  hot 
strife  of  arms,  in  sudden  overthrow;  of  those  who  died  in  prisons,  or  wasted 
away  with  pale  famine  or  perished  with  disease  or  wounds.  All  fallen  for 
fatherland.  They  cannot  perish.  They  live  in  the  new  liffe  of  the  Republic, 
which  God  has  granted  to  us  in  answer  to  our  prayers  and  to  such  precious 
sacrifices. 

My  comrades,  the  eyes  of  the  world  are  upon  us  as  a  Nation,  and  as  we 
fulfill  to-day  our  sad  and  grateful  duty  of  consecration,  let  us  reflect  on  what 
we  ought  to  be,  and  are,  still  striving  to  maintain  and  enhance  the  happy 
heritage  our  heroic  comrades  gave  their  all  to  secure. 

We  shall  shame  them  and  ourselves,  if  we  permit  one  blot  to  fall  upon  the 
glorious  page  that  chronicles  the  war,  the  sufferings  and  the  trials,  and  which 
is  bright  with  the  fame  of  heroic  deeds  and  unmeasured  self-sacrifices.  We 
owe  to  them  and  to  our  country  the  influence  of  high  example,  honesty,  loyalty, 
courage,  self-denial  and  obedience  —  the  preserver  of  faith,  of  truth  and  duty. 
So  shall  our  Nation  be  maintained  the  peerless  pride  of  all  the  world,  and  that 
freedom  shall  be  perpetuated  which  costs  so  much  to  secure. 

"  He  is  a  freeman  whom  the  truth  makes  free,  and  all  are  slaves  beside." 

In  this  presence  let  us  renew  our  vows  to  our  glorious  Union,  and  joining 
hearts,  as  we  join  hands,  pour  forth  the  Christian  patriot's  prayer. 

"That  peace  and  happiness,  truth  and  justice,  religion  and  piety,  may  be 
established  among  us  for  all  generations." 

Comrades,  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  present  to  you  Comrade  Charles  J. 
Buchanan,  who  will  deliver  the  oration  upon  this  occasion. 


ORATION  BY  LIEUT.  CHARLES  J.  BUCHANAN. 

Comrades,  Friends  and  Fellow  Citizens: 

Can  a  stronger  contrast  be  imagined  than  the  quiet  and  glow  of  this  mid- 
,summer  scene  and  the  struggle  which  took  place  on  this  spot  twenty-six  years 
lago?  These  woods  to-day  have  that  calm  which  belongs  to  the  earth,  but 
which  was  denied  to  them  when  we  first  made  their  acquaintance.     It  hardly 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1065 

seems  possible  that  such  a  long  period  has  intervened  since  we  fought  over  this 
ground.  In  that  interval  time  has  wrought  marked  changes  in  us,  but  we 
who  have  assembled  to  dedicate  this  monument  insist  that  we  are  still  sharp- 
shooters, and  our  hearts  beat  as  lightly  now  as  they  did  years  ago  when  we 
touched  elbows  together  in  our  then  common  cause.  We  go  back  in  memory 
this  morning  to  our  soldier  days,  and  recur  to  that  patriotic  brotherhood  then 
formed  and  cemented,  whose  ties  bound  us  firmer  than  we  at  that  time  knew 
or  even  dreamed. 

When  the  sound  of  artillery  reached  us  at  Emmitsburg,  from  this  direction 
on  the  morning  of  July  i,  1863,  it  was  evident  to  all  who  heard  it  that  the 
battle  was  at  hand  which  would  determine  whether  freedom  or  slavery  should 
prevail  on  this  continent.  No  reasoning  was  necessary  to  reach  this  conclu- 
sion. Something  in  the  very  air  forced  this  inference  upon  us.  It  was  certain 
that  the  result  of  this  battle  would  decide  the  fate  of  the  would-be  Southern 
Confederacy.  Undoubtedly,  if  the  Rebel  army  could,  after  two  years  of 
successful  defence  of  its  own  capital,  carry  the  war  into  Northern  territory 
at  one  step,  to  be  victorious  in  a  general  engagement  in  a  free  State,  France 
and  England  would  have  promptly  recognized  the  independence  of  the  South. 
The  fate  of  Vicksburg  was  at  that  time  trembhng  in  the  balance.  True,  Gen- 
eral Grant  then  had  that  stronghold  in  his  grip,  but  it  had  not,  in  fact,  sur- 
rendered. Yet  even  with  Vicksburg  ours,  and  the  Potomac  army  broken, 
scattered  or  driven  inside  the  trenches  of  Washington,  there  would  have  been 
but  little  excuse  to  postpone  such  recognition  of  the  Confederacy  by  these 
governments,  whose  sympathies  with  it  were  never  questioned.  General  Lee, 
against  his  own  judgment  it  is  claimed,  had,  by  a  bold  and  aggressive  move- 
ment, crossed  the  Rappahannock,  passed  uncomfortably  close  to  Baltimore 
and  the  National  capital,  kept  his  army  well  concentrated,  and  was  daily  issuing 
his  orders  from  altogether  too  near  Harrisburg.  The  Pennsylvania  capital 
was  within  easy  grasp  of  the  Confederates.  The  stereotyped  phrase  "  All 
quiet  along  the  Potomac,"  had  given  away  to  a  new  and,  to  us,  a  far  more 
interesting  expression,  namely:  "  Consternation  and  trouble  along  the  Sus- 
quehanna." The  North  was  wildly  excited,  and  not  without  reason.  Phila- 
delphia was  apprehensive  of  capture,  and  New  York  City  was  becoming  alarm- 
ingly uneasy. 

To  increase  these  remarkable  complications  a  new  and  untried  commander 
was,  at  that  critical  moment,  vouchsafed  to  us.  Our  tastes  in  this  regard  were 
not  in  the  least  consulted,  and  rightly  enough,  probably,  for  had  they  been, 
we  might  have  looked  further  for  a  leader,  though  perhaps  not  more  fortunately. 

The  news  of  this  change  of  leaders  was  communicated  to  us  while  we  were 
on  the  march,  and  almost  in  sight  of  yonder  Round  Top.  We  received  the 
information  with  the  utmost  indifference.  Of  the  successor  of  General  Hooker 
we  then  knew  little  and  cared  less.  It  was  not  ours  to  make  reply  nor  to 
reason  why  at  that  crisis,  nor  did  we  do  so.  Our  thoughts  had  other  occupa- 
tion. It  mattered  not  to  us  who  rode  at  the  head  of  our  army,  or  occupied 
the  commanding  general's  saddle,  so  long  as  he  promptly  led  us  to  meet  the 
Rebels  and  drive  them  from  Northern  soil.  It  was  not  then  in  our  hearts  or 
heads  to  quibble  as  to  whether  the  Rebellion  should  be  put  down  by  strictly 


io66  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

constitutional  methods,  nor  did  we  care  which  political  party  should  have  the 
credit  therefor.  Our  contract  with  the  government  was  simply  to  help  bring 
about  an  honorable  settlement  of  the  great  national  issue  then  pending.  We 
realized  that  our  homes  and  firesides  were  threatened;  that  our  towns  were 
being  pillaged  and  depopulated;  that  our  kinsfolk  and  clansmen  were  in  danger; 
and  that  supplies  and  contributions  were  being  exacted  from  our  citizens  with- 
out compensation  or  formality. 

The  "  emergency  militia,"  good  enough  for  dress  parade,  viewed  these 
veterans  from  afar  and  wisely  decided  to  give  them  the  right  of  way  without 
any  opposition  or  molestation.  This  showed  excellent  judgment  on  their  part. 
Our  own  army  then  shared  the  opinions  of  some  of  its  generals,  that  the  only 
way  to  check  the  progress  of  the  Confederates  and  restore  quiet  to  our  agitated 
and  distracted  borders  was  to  quickly  meet  and  unmercifully  beat  them.  As 
our  feet  touched  Northern  sod  and  we  snuffed  the  breezes  fresh  from  native 
hills,  our  drooping  spirits  arose  as  if  touched  by  magic.  The  very  air  we 
breathed  seemed  laden  with  patriotism  and  devotion.  Our  old  time  ardor  and 
zeal  for  the  cause  to  which  we  had  pledged  our  fortunes  and  periled  our  lives 
came  back  to  us,  renewed  and  invigorated,  and  nerved  us  with  ten-fold 
courage. 

The  over  confidence  of  the  great  Lee  in  himself  and  his  army  had  betrayed 
him  into  jocularity  and  indiscretion.  Only  a  few  days  before  he  had  playfully 
observed  to  one  of  his  favorite  subalterns,  "  Ah !  General,  the  enemy  is  a  long 
time  in  finding  us.  If  he  does  not  succeed  soon  we  must  go  in  search  of  him." 
The  proud  Southron  didn't  have  to  look  long  for  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
It  was  already  nearer  than  he  even  suspected.  In  fact  we  were  seeking  him 
as  lively  as  we  could  under  all  the  circumstances. 

Buford's  challenge  was  the  first  real  salutation  the  Confederates  had  re- 
ceived from  our  army  since  its  unfortunate  and  unexpected  defeat  at  Chan- 
cellorsville.  As  this  cannonade  shifted  and  gradually  subsided,  every  one  of 
us  knew  that  whatever  troops  of  ours  had  been  engaged  were  worsted,  for 
it  was  apparent  from  the  hurried  march  we  made  that  our  immediate  presence 
here  was  necessary  and  imperative. 

It  is  unnecessary,  on  this  day,  to  recount  and  specify  the  heroism  of  the  bold 
Buford  and  his  dismounted  cavalry  on  the  first  day  of  this  battle.  Other 
tongues  than  mine  have  narrated  the  noble  support  given  him  by  Reynolds 
and  Doubleday,  Howard  and  Hancock.  It  is  matter  of  record  that  the  legions 
of  Kearny,  Hooker,  and  Whipple,  composing  the  old  Third  Army  Corps, 
were  hastened  thither  as  soon  as  it  was  known  that  fighting  was  in  progress, 
without  orders,  and,  in  fact,  against  orders.  General  Sickles,  though  miles 
away,  with  the  instinct  of  the  true  soldier,  knew  that  there  was  naught  to  do 
but  for  our  army  to  hasten  hither,  and  that  the  point  of  concentration  was 
whence  the  cannonade  indicated. 

The  Third  Corps  reached  this  field  after  the  first  day's  battle  had  ceased, 
coming  most  of  the  distance  from  Emmitsburg  on  the  double-quick.  We  went 
into  camp  the  night  of  July  i,  1863,  near  Little  Round  Top,  knowing  that  the 
battle  here  was  hardly  commenced,  and  that  our  opportunity  to  participate  in 
the  fight  would  be  promptly  afforded  on  the  morrow.  Our  course  was  clear 
as  noonday,  and  we  had  been  in  too  many  close  campaigns  to  fear  or  falter  at 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1067 

such  a  crisis.  Wearied  with  our  long  and  tedious  march,  we  slept  as  soundly 
that  night  as  if  no  conflict  awaited  us  —  and  as  if  peace,  instead  of  war,  was 
our  inheritance. 

The  next  day  was  destined  to  severely  test  the  mettle  of  the  old  Third  Corps 
as  it  had  never  before  been  tried.  During  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  July,  there 
were  busy  preparations  and  hot  haste  everywhere,  but  there  seemed  to  be 
no  reliable  information  as  to  what  were  the  enemy's  strength,  dispositions 
and  intentions  on  the  Union  left.  General  Sickles  fretted  and  chafed  under  the 
restraint  imposed  upon  him,  and,  apprehending  the  enemy's  purpose  here, 
could  not  long  brook  this  uncertainty  in  his  front,  and,  therefore,  promptly 
determined  to  ascertain  by  whom  and  how  he  was  threatened.  It  fell  to  our 
regiment  to  obtain  this  desired  information  in  a  way  of  which  I  shall  speak 
in  a  moment. 

To  seek  to  record  our  services  in  those  woods  on  July  2,  1863,  in  some  defi- 
nite, enduring  fo'rm  is  certainly  a  pardonable  vanity  on  our  part.  It  is  my 
object  to  refer  to  a  single  feature  of  the  second  day's  battle  of  Gettysburg  — 
namely,  a  reconnoissance  by  a  part  of  the  First  Regiment  of  the  United  States 
Sharpshooters  to  this  spot.  We  are  too  modest  to  claim,  even  here  and  among 
ourselves,  that  we  alone  made  the  victory  won  upon  this  field  possible.  But 
we  made  a  discovery,  and  rendered  a  service  here  that  morning  which  was  o£ 
great  importance,  and  had  a  serious  bearing  upon  the  fate  and  success  of  our 
army. 

It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  attempt  to  describe  the  great  battle  fought  on 
this  field,  or  to  minutely  detail  events  preceding  or  following  it  which  are 
familiar  to  us  all.  We  can  almost  hear  the  first  order  given  for  a  part  of  our 
regiment  to  move  out  and  take  position  along  and  west  of  the  Emmitsburg 
Road,  with  the  left  of  our  line  extending  well  down  towards  the  Peach  Orchard. 
Companies  B  and  H,  of  New  York,  went  out  with  this  detail.  They  were 
hardly  in  position  before  another  detachment  of  the  regiment  was  asked  for  to 
skirmish  in  these  woods  to  ascertain  what  the  enemy,  dangerously  quiet,  was 
doing  here.  One  hundred  men,  consisting  of  Companies  D,  E,  F  and  I,  were 
sent  upon  this  service  —  these  four  companies  representing  the  States  of  New 
York,  Vermont,  Michigan,  and  New  Hampshire.  The  Third  Maine  Infantry 
was  sent  along  as  our  support.  Thus  it  happened  that  to  New  England,-  the 
Middle  States,  and  the  Great  West,  jointly  was  assigned  this  movement  to 
unmask  the  enemy's  intentions.  Crossing  the  Emmitsburg  Road  near  the 
Peach  Orchard,  we  deployed  rapidly  near  those  frame  buildings  skirting  these 
woods  and  the  road  leading  by  yonder  schoolhouse.  We  then  obliqued 
cautiously  into  the  grove,  taking  a  northwesterly  direction.  As  we  approached 
those  same  buildings,  a  lad  then  living  there,  who  had  just  returned  from  an 
errand  to  a  neighbor's  close  by,  seeing  our  handful  of  men  about  to  attack  a 
large  force  of  Rebels  concealed  here,  whom  he  had  seen  but  a  little  while  before 
he  was  returning  to  his  father's  house,  remarked  almost  with  a  sneer,  in  the 
hearing  of  several  of  us,  "  Look  out!  there  are  lots  of  Rebels  in  there  in  rows  " 
(pointing  in  this  direction).  We  ridiculed  the  boy's  remark  and  discredited  his 
statement,  thinking  that  he  knew  nothing  about  war  and  was  talking  nonsense. 
It  is  now  stated  that  the  lad,  young  as  he  was,  had  been  at  Antietam  the  year 


lo68  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

before,  witnessed  a  part  of  that  battle,  and  was  not,  consequently,  so  un- 
sophisticated as  we  thought  him  to  be.  At  any  rate  the  words  were  hardly 
out  of  his  mouth  before  we  advanced  rapidly  into  the  woods  and  were  almost 
immediately  briskly  challenged  and  disputed  by  the  Rebel  pickets. 

With  a  rush  we  drove  in  the  Confederate  skirmishers,  chased  them  to  this 
spot  and  even  beyond  it,  where,  supported  by  thousands  of  their  own  infantry, 
they  made  a  stand  and  we  could  push  them  no  farther.  We  were  ambitious, 
however,  for  greater  distinction,  and  held  our  owh  here  for  some  time,  inflicting 
terrible  loss  upon  the  enemy.  The  gallant  Third  Maine  Infantry,  under  Colonel 
Lakeman,  supported  us  handsomely,  and  seeing  the  odds  against  which  we 
were  contending,  came  nobly  up  and  strengthened  our  skirmish  Une,  and  helped 
us  to  the  best  of  their  ability.  Many  Confederates  fell  before  our  unerring, 
breech-loading  rifles, 

"Where  with  every  swift  pull  of  a  trigger, 
Each  sharpshooter  dashed  out  a  life." 

We  are  credibly  informed  that  here  in  our  immediate  front,  scores  of  Rebels 
were  killed  by  our  shots,  and  that  in  one  particular  spot,  less  than  loo 
feet  square,  opposite  to  us,  were  found  more  than  forty  dead  Confederates. 
There  is  no  doubt  about  it,  for  we  were  well  armed,  knew  how  to  handle  our 
Sharp's  rifles  in  those  days,  and  were  in  dead  earnest  that  morning. 

We  had,  however,  accomplished  all  that  had  been  assigned  us  to  do,  and 
more  than  our  orders  required.  Our  instructions  were  to  push  into  these 
woods  as  far  as  we  could,  learn  how  many  Rebels  were  concealed  here,  and 
find  out  just  what  they  were  doing.  All  this  we  did,  but  at  fearful  cost  to  our 
regiment,  which  though  deployed  and  fighting  as  skirmishers,  lost  one-fifth  of 
the  number  engaged  in  a  very  few  minutes.  Our  skirmish  firing  was  met  by 
volleys  of  Rebel  infantry.  Capt.  Charles  D.  McLean,  of  Company  D,  was 
mortally  wounded  in  this  encounter,  and  but  a  few  paces  from  where  we  now 
are.  He  was  one  of  the  best  officers  in  the  regiment,  and  a  braver  soldier  and 
nobler  man  never  lived.  Smith  Haight  and  Edward  -Nelson,  of  D  Company, 
both  excellent  soldiers,  were  also  severely  wounded  here.  Haight  lived  but 
a  few  hours.  As  soon  as  the  Rebels  recovered  from  the  confusion  and  fright 
into  which  our  vigorous  attack  threw  them,  saw  that  our  small  skirmish  line 
was  entirely  unsupported,  and  had  the  audacity  to  try  to  dispute  the  possession 
of  these  woods  with  their  solid  columns,  they  took  in  the  almost  ridiculousness 
of  the  situation,  assumed  the  aggressive,  and  hustled  us  out  of  this  timber 
without  ceremony.  They  were  badly  scared,  however,  and  came  on  slowly, 
for  we  had  taught  them  a  serious  lesson  and  they  were  disposed  to  take  no 
chances. 

Our  impetuous  attack  disconcerted,  delayed  and  annoyed  the  enemy,  who 
seemed  to  think  it  impossible  that  our  skirmishers  were  not  the  advance  of  a 
large  attacking  force.  It  is  now  generally  conceded  by  the  Confederate  gen- 
erals, and  especially  by  General  Longstreet,  that  this  bold,  stout-hearted 
reconnoissance  of  ours  developed  and  deferred  the  Confederate  movement  then 
progressing  against  us  in  heavy  force  under  cover  of  these  woods.    It  has  been 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1069 

recently  asserted  that  General  Longstreet  admits  that  this  attack  of  ours  de- 
layed the  Rebel  army  forty  minutes,  but  for  which  they  would  have  had  Little 
Round  Top,  and  the  day  would  have  been  theirs.  The.  Rebel  tactics  here 
were  to  turn  our  left  flank  and  to  threaten  the  rear  of  our  army  and  capture 
both  the  Round  Tops.  ■ 

The  timely  information  so  obtained  and  communicated  to  General  Sickles 
through  us  was  the  first  reliable  report  of  the  enemy's  strength  and  intentions 
on  this  critical  part  of  the  field,  and  materially  assisted  in  defeating  the  same. 

General  Sickles,  in  a  recent  letter,  regretting  his  inability  to  be  with  us  to- 
day, referred  to  our  services  here  in  the  following  strong  language :  "  I  should 
have  found  great  satisfaction  in  meeting  the  survivors  of  the  sharpshooters 
who  made  that  brilliant  reconnoissance  on  the  morning  of  July  2,  1863,  in 
front  of  the  extreme  left  held  by  my  corps  at  Gettysburg.  It  is  not  too  much 
to  declare  that  you  were  able  to  develop  and  disclose  enough  of  the  position, 
force,  formation  and  movements  of  the  enemy  to  warrant  the  belief  that  the 
battle  would  be  fought  on  the  left,  and  to  justify  the  dispositions  made  by  me 
to  meet  the  enemy  there.  This  reconnoissance  is  historical.  It  deserves  com- 
memoration. It  was  not  only  a  brilliant  feat  of  arms,  it  was  of  inestimable 
advantage  and  value  to  our  cause,  contributing,  as  it  did,  to  the  decisive  victory 
of  July  2d,  from  which  the  enemy  never  recovered." 

Here  let  me  digress  for  a  moment  from  the  logical  order  of  my  address.  A 
great  deal  has  been  said  and  written  as  to  precisely  when  these  four  companies 
(D,  E,  F,  and  I)  left  the  regiment  that  morning;  just  when  we  moved  into 
the  woods;  exactly  how  far  we  went;  and  how  long  we  remained  in  the  timber. 
None  of  these  details  are  of  the  slightest  consequence  to  what  we  actually 
accomplished.  An  attempt  has  been  made,  also,  to  connect  this  reconnoissance 
of  ours  directly,  in  point  of  time,  with  the  magnificent  and  stubborn  fight  at 
the  Peach  Orchard  by  the  rest  of  our  Third  Corps  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day.  This  is  not  as  the  most  of  us  remember  it;  but  what  is  the  use  of 
quibbling  over  these  nonessentials,  thereby  entirely  losing  sight  of  the  merits 
of  our  spirited  and  successful  reconnoissance?  As  has  been  observed,  there 
was  honor  and  glory  enough  at  Gettysburg  to  go  all  around.  So  much  has 
been  said  and  written  upon  these  immaterials,  however,  that  it  may  be  worth 
while  to  refer  briefly  to  the  official  reports  and  to  other  data  for  the  best  record 
information  now  obtainable  as  to  these  mere  side  issues,  over  which  there  is 
no  use  to  dispute,  and  concerning  which  there  ought  to  be  no  controversy. 
This  is  necessary,  too,  as  the  human  memory  is  never  reliable  as  to  questions 
of  mere  time,  nor  as  to  its  flight,  especially  after  an  interval  of  twenty-six 
years,  when  no  two  of  us  seem  to  precisely  agree  as  to  what  occurred  any- 
where on  this  battlefield,  nor  as  to  when,  how,  why,  or  where  it  happened. 

General  Birney's  official  report  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  dated  August  7, 
1863,  states  as  follows:  "At  12  m.,  believing,  from  the  constant  fire  of  the 
enemy,  that  a  movement  was  being  made  towards  the  left,  I  received  permis- 
sion from  Major  General  Sickles  to  send  100  of  Berdan's  Sharpshooters,  with 
the  Third  Maine  Regiment  as  a  support,  and  feel  the  enemy's  right.  I  sent 
Capt.  J.  C.  Briscoe,  of  my  staff,  with  the  reconnoissance,  which  was  under 
Colonel  Berdan's  command.    They  advanced  from  the  Peach  Orchard,  out  the 


1070  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Millerstown  Road,  and  entered  the  woods  in  order  to  flank  the  enemy.  The 
skirmishers  of  the  enemy  were  driven  in,  but  three  columns  of  their  forces  were 
found  marching  to  the  left.  The  force  sent  by  me  was  driven  back  by  over- 
whelming numbers,  with  the  loss  of  about  60  killed  and  wounded.  Communi- 
cating this  important  information  to  Major  General  Sickles,  I  was  ordered  by 
that  ofificer  to  change  my  front  to  meet  the  attack." 

General  Berdan's  report,  dated  July  29,  1863,  states  as  follows:  "About 
7.30  a.  m.,  I  received  orders  to  send  forward  a  detachment  of  100  sharp- 
shooters to  discover,  if  possible,  what  the  enemy  was  doing.  I  went  out  with 
the  detail,  and  posted  them  on  the  crest  of  the  hill  beyond  the  Emmitsburg 
Road,  and  where  they  kept  up  a  constant  fire  nearly  all  day  upon  the  enemy 
in  the  woods  beyond,  until  they  were  driven  in,  about  5  p.  m.,  by  a  heavy 
force  of  the  enemy,  after  having  expended  all  their  ammunition.  As  it  was 
impossible,  with  this  force,  to  proceed  far  enough  to  discover  what  was  being 
done  by  the  enemy  in  the  rear  of  this  woods,  I  reported  the  fact  to  Major  Gen- 
eral Birney,  and  about  11  a.  m.  I  received  an  order  from  him  to  send  out 
another  detachment  of  100  sharpshooters  farther  to  the  left  of  our  lines,  and 
to  take  the  Third  Maine  Volunteers  as  support,  with  directions  to  feel  the 
enemy  and  to  discover  their  movements,  if  possible. 

"  I  moved  down  the  Emmitsburg  Road  some  distance  beyond  our  extreme 
left  and  deployed  the  sharpshooters  in  a  line  running  east  and  west,  and  moved 
forward  in  a  northerly  direction  parallel  with  the  Emmitsburg  Road.  We 
soon  came  upon  the  enemy  and  drove  them  sufficiently  to  discover  three 
columns  in  motion  in  rear  of  the  woods,  changing  direction,  as  it  were,  by 
the  right  flank.  We  attacked  them  vigorously  on  the  flank,  and  from  our 
having  come  upon  them  very  unexpectedly,  and  getting  close  upon  them,  we 
were  enabled  to  do  great  execution,  and  threw  them  for  a  time  into  confusion. 
They  soon  rallied,  however,  and  attacked  us,  when,  having  accomplished  the 
object  of  the  reconnoissance,  I  withdrew  under  cover  of  the  woods,  bringing 
ofl!  most  of  our  wounded,  and  reported  about  2  o'clock  to  Major  General  Birney 
the  result  of  our  operations  and  discoveries." 

Under  date  of  July  29,  1863,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Trepp  of  the  First  United 
States  Sharpshooters  reported  as  follows :  "  Early  in  the  morning  of  July  2d,, 
this  regiment  was  posted  so,  and  with  instructions  to  protect  the  left  flank  of 
the  Third  Corps.  Soon  thereafter  the  dispositions  were  changed,  and  I  re- 
ceived an  order  to  send  100  men  on  a  reconnoissance  in  front  of  the  right  of  the 
Third  Army  Corps.  *  *  *  I  then  received  another  order  for  100  men  for 
a  reconnoissance.  *  *  *  xhe  position  of  the  companies  of  my  regiment 
was  D  and  E  on  the  left,  F  and  I  on  the  right,  Third  Maine  as  reserve.  We 
drove  the  enemy  about  300  yards,  when  he  made  a  stand  behind  a  rail  fence. 
The  firing  was  very  brisk  for  about  ten  minutes,  during  which  time  we  main- 
tained our  position.  Col.  H.  Berdan  then  gave  the  order  to  fall  back,  firing, 
which  was  done  in  good  order,  the  enemy  pursuing  a  short  distance." 

Col.  Moses  K.  Lakeman's  report  of  July  27,  1863,  uses  the  following  lan- 
guage: "By  order,  I  formed  my  regiment  in  line  of  battle  parallel  to  and 
facing  the  Emmitsburg  Road,  on  the  right  of  the  brigade,  at  early  morn. 
Soon  after,  by  order  of  General  Ward,  I  moved  my  regiment  as  a  support  for 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1071 

the  body  of  sharpshooters,  under  command  of  Colonel  Berdan,  to  whom  I 
was  ordered  to  report  by  Captain  Briscoe  of  General  Birney's  staff.  *  *  * 
The  enemy  showed  himself  in  overwhelming  force,  but  so  well  did  we  hold  our 
position  that  his  advance  was  much  checked  and  very  disastrous,  and  not 
until  orders  by  Colonel  Berdan  to  fall  back  did  a  single  man  leave  the  ranks, 
with  the  exception  of  those  who  were  slightly  wounded,  when  I  retired,_  giving 
an  occasional  volley  to  check  his  advance,  which  now  became  quicker.  *  *  * 
This  engagement  was  short,  but  very  severe."     *     *     * 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  diary  of  Mr.  F.  E.  Garrett,  of  Knox, 
Pa.,  formerly  of  Company  D,  First  United  States  Sharpshooters,  made  by  him 
July  2,  1863,  viz.:  "2d  July,  noon.  We  have  just  come  out  of  the  fight. 
Part  of  our  regiment,  with  the  Third  Maine,  went  out  on  a  reconnoissance 
and  ran  on  a  shag.  We  fought  till  the  superior  numbers  of  the  Rebels  forced 
us  to  fall  back." 

Capt.  F.  E.  Marble,  formerly  of  Company  C,  First  United  States  Sharp- 
shooters, now  at  Swampscott,  Mass.,  and  who  was  in  command  of  Companies 
B  and  G,  made  an  entry  in  his  diary  on  the  field,  July  2,  1863,  of  which  the 
following  is  an  extract: 

"Thursday,  July  2d,  12  o'clock,  m. 
"  *    *    *    Out  on  the  skirmish  line  in  front  of  the  enemy.    *    *    *    Just  on 
my  left  the  sharpshooters,  with  the  Third  Maine,  are  advancing  in  line  of 
skirmishers  and  volley  after  volley  is  fired  from  both  sides.     *     *     *    The 
.  woods  in  our  front  are  full  of  Rebels.  "    *    *    * 

These  extracts  simply  show  that  sometime  between  7.30  a.  m.,  or  early 
morn,  whenever  that  was,  and  12  m.,  July  2,  1863,  Colonel  Berdan,  seeing  that 
his  small  attacking  force  could  do  nothing  against  three  Rebel  infantry  columns, 
wisely  ordered  a  retreat  of  his  small  force,  the  result  of  the  reconnoissance 
having  been  splendidly  accomplished.  He  reported  the  result  to  General  Bimey, 
who  accord«igly  changed  and  disposed  of  his  division  to  meet  the  enemy's 
unexpected  attack  from  this  quarter,  and  gave  him  a  warm  reception  when 
he  did  come.  Rebel  accounts  state  that  this  reconnoissance  was  made  about 
9  a.-m.  My  own  recollection  of  the  time  and  detail  with  which  this  attack 
of  ours  was  made  is  not  satisfactory  even  to  myself,  though  there  is  no  doubt 
but  that  it  was  sometime  during  the  morning  of  July  2,  1863.  There  are  im- 
portant points  upon  which  we  can  all  agree,  and  this  being  so,  let's  stick  to 
them  and  not  fly  to  others  about  which  there  is  uncertainty,  nor  engage  in 
contentions  which  are  altogether  unprofitable.  We  were  here  sometime  in  the 
forenoon  of  July  2,  1863,  and  the  exact  time  has  no  more  to  do  with  our 
gallantry  and  services  on  that  occasion  than  have  the  spots  on  the  sun.  All 
we  claim  for  this  movement  of  ours  is  that  it  was  a  bold,  aggressive,  hazardous 
and  important  reconnoissance.  The  numbers  actually  engaged  in  this  skir- 
mish were  no  measure  of  its  great  moment  and  significance  to  our  army,  and 
especially  to  the  Third  Army  Corps. 

It  may  be  observed  that  nothing  could  be  hoped  from  such  a  small  fight, 
but  we  say  that  this  spirited  encounter  was  fraught  with  results,  already  stated, 
the  importance  of  which  cannot  be  over  estimated.  It  was  like  a  thunderbolt, 
to  the  Rebels,  from  a  clear  sky.    It  is  not  claimed  that  we  saved  the  Army 


1072  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

of  the  Potomac  from  destruction  that  day;  nor  do  we  contend  that  the  Union 
cause  would  have  failed,  or  that  "  further  recruiting  (at  the  North)  would  have 
been  impossible"  but  for  our  successful  reconnoissance ;  yet  we  do  insist  that 
this  movement  was  most  vital  and  important  in  its  results,  and  that  no  other 
regiment  ever  organized  could  have  accomplished  the  same  so  easily,  so  well, 
so  skillfully,  and  so  quickly  as  we  did.  Only  a  skirmish!  the  newspapers 
used  to  say.  In  almost  all  of  our  minor  engagements  somebody  was  killed, 
and,  usually,  we  lost  heavier,  comparatively  speaking,  in  these  affairs,  than 
in  general  engagements.  Skirmishers  are,  and  always  have  been,  most  im- 
portant factors  to  all  great  armies.  Their  absence,  or  the  failure  to  use  them, 
has  often  led  to  most  serious  disasters  and  complications.  Kempt's  skirmish- 
ers at  Waterloo  contributed  largely  to  defeat  Napoleon.  There  is,  it  has  been 
truly  observed,  always  a  moment  when  a  battle  degenerates  into  a  narrow  com- 
bat, particularizes  itself,  scatters  into  insurmountable  details,  which  belong 
rather  to  the  biography  of  the  regiment  than  to  the  history  of  the  army. 
The  soldier,  as  a  skirmisher,  to  some  extent  left  to  himself,  becomes,  so  to 
speak,  his  own  general.  It  is  not  too  broad  a  military  proposition  to  state, 
now  and  here,  that  no  army  ever  succeeded  without  the  employment  of  well- 
trained  skirmishers. 

When  the  English  army  wavered  at  Mont  St  Jean,  the  sharpshooters  were 
true  to  Wellington,  and  from  their  heroic  example  the  rest  of  the  army  took 
courage.  Had  our  regiment  failed  to  perform  this  duty  upon  this  important 
occasion;  had  it  turned  and  fled  when  it  was  manifest  what  confronted  it;  had 
it  behaved  otherwise  than  with  heroism  in  these  woods,  who  shall  say  that 
its  example  would  not  have  had  a  demoralizing  effect  upon  our  entire  army, 
which  had  not,  at  that  time,  been  formally  introduced  to  its  new  commander, 
who  hardly  knew  his  own  lieutenants,  and  who  was  of  the  opinion  even  after 
the  second  day's  fight,  and  our  success  at  Little  Round  Top,  that  this  field 
was  no  place  on  which  to  fight  a  battle? 

Lee's  conduct  and  tactics  on  this  field  added  nothing  to  his  laurels  as  a 
general,  but  rather  detracted  therefrom.  His  time  and  manner  of  attack  here 
from  first  to  last,  what  he  actually  did  compared  with  what  he  could  readily 
have  done,  showed  clearly  that  he  then  cared  but  little  for  our  army  and  still 
less  for  its  commanding  general. 

Gettysburg  was  a  great  battle,  fought  and  won,  on  our  side  by  our  corps 
generals  and  the  matchless  valor  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

We  would  not,  and  do  not,  say  a  word  against  General  Meade.  We  yield 
to  none  in  admiration  and  appreciation  of  his  great  military  talents.  But  we 
do  say  that  he  did  not  win  his  spurs  at  Gettysburg.  We  insist,  and  believe, 
that  time  will  vindicate  our  position,  that  but  for  Warren  and  Hancock,  Rey- 
nolds and  Doubleday,  Buford  and  Sickles,  Howard  and  Siocum,  Sedgwick 
and  Gibbons,  Hunt  and  Sykes,  and  their  subordinates,  with  the  rank  and 
file  of  our  splendid  army,  the  result  of  this  great  battle,  under  all  the  circum- 
stances attending  it,  might,  and  probably  would,  have  been  reversed.  General 
Meade  is  not  to  be  censured  for  hesitating  or  even  vacillating  at  Gettysburg. 
The  stake  at  issue  was  too  great  for  any  foolish  risk,  and  General  Meade 
hugged  his  conservatism  and  took  no  chances.    He  never,  however,  was  just, 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  i073 

or  even  fair,  with  his  lieutenants,  and  especially  with  Generals  Slocum  and 
Sickles  for  their  conspicuous  abilities,  never  more  signally  displayed  than  on 
this  field.  As  the  sun  went  down  July  2,  1863,  over  this  rent,  trodden,  and 
dead-covered  field,  and  as  the  smoke  of  battle  gradually  lifted,  all  that  was 
left  of  the  gallant  old  Third  Corps,  though  roughly  handled,  reduced  almost 
beyond  recognition,  but  not  dishonored,  was  forced  away  from  its  lines  and 
positions  by  overwhelming  odds  to  and  beyond  Cemetery  Ridge,  where  it 
closed  its  shattered  ranks,  and  with  cheers  greeted  the  arrival  of  the  Sixth 
Corps.  This  remnant  stood  defiant  and  intact,  ready  to  take  part  in  the  final 
struggle  of  the  next  day,  which  was  destined  to  come,  though  its  result  was 
very  apparent,  even  in  the  twilight  of  the  second  day's  battle.  Pickett's 
meteoric,  brilliant,  and  heroic  charge,  unnecessary  and  unadvisable  as  it  was 
under  all  the  circumstances,  was  hopeless,  and  doomed  to  defeat  and  absolute 
failure.  This  historic,  steadfast  charge  was  the  last  gasp  and  dying  agony 
of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  at  Gettysburg,  and  could  not,  by  any  then 
possibility,  have  succeeded.  The  result  of  this  great  battle  was  fully  determined 
by  the  stubborn  fight  of  our  corps  in  its  advanced  position  on  the  afternoon 
of  July  2,  1863.  We  would  not  abate  one  jot  nor  tittle  from  Slocum's  splendid 
generalship  and  the  glorious  fighting  of  his  Twelfth  Corps  at  Gulp's  Hill, 
July  3,  1863,  which  supplemented  and  clinched  our  efforts  of  the  evening 
previous,  and  contributed  so  materially  to  the  final  success  won  here  on  our 
left.  The  Wheatfield  and  the  Peach  Orchard  bore  prolific,  but  unnatural 
fruit  and  grain  in  early  July,  1863.    Their  harvests  were  abundant,  but  dreadful. 

Too  much  has  been  said  and  written  by  way  of  harsh  and  nonsensical  crit- 
icism about  the  awful  "  salient "  of  General  Sickles  at  the  Peach  Orchard.  No 
time  need  be  wasted  in  discussing  this  remarkable  feature  of  this  battle,  which, 
without  asking  any  favors,  or  in  any  wise  begging  the  question,  in  all  prob- 
ability forced  Lee  to  attack  the  Third  Corps  when  and  where  he  did  in  its 
advanced  position,  prevented  him  from  turning  our  position,  and  made  certain 
the  glorious  result  accomplished  here,  under  which  the  Rebels  groaned  and 
staggered  and  from  which  they  never  rallied.  Though  the  Southerners  fought 
from  that  time  forward  with  their  accustomed  bravery  and  dash,  their  courage 
was  born  of  despair,  their  gallantry  was  strained,  and  it  was  clearly  evident 
that  the  Rebellion  was  melting  and  dissolving  before  the  blows  and  endurance 
of  the  Union  army  which  were  almost  everywhere  victorious.  Without  making 
any  invidious  distinctions  as  to  the  fighting  done  or  gallantry  displayed  by 
the  different  troops  at  Gettysburg,  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  the  old  Third 
Corps  lost  none  of  its  reputation  by  its  conduct  on  this  field,  and  that  to  none 
should  be  given  greater  credit  for  winning  this  battle  than  to  Sickles,  Hum- 
phreys, Birney,  Carr,  Graham,  Ward,  De  Trobriand,  Brewster,  Burling  and 
Randolph,  and  the  men  they  commanded. 

My  duty  here  would  be  poorly  performed  were  I  not  to  mention,  briefly  at 
least,  something  of  the  origin  and  record  of  the  regiment  to  whose  honor  this 
monument  is  dedicated.  Its  history  is  part  and  parcel  of  that  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  for  it  never  served  in  any  other  department.  When  General  Berdan 
obtained  permission  to  recruit  the  regiment,  in  i86r,  he  builded  wiser  than 
he  knew.     Of  the  discouragements  and  trials  he  met  and  bravely  faced  in 

68 


I074  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

securing  for  us  our  uniqueness  and  identity  as  a  sharpshooter  organization,  no 
one,  not  even  himself,  can  now  fully  describe.  He  had  to  fight,  among  others, 
the  War  Department,  the  Chief  of  Ordnance,  and  the  Quartermaster  General. 
Springfield  muskets  were  then  deemed  amply  sufficient  for  all  exigencies  of 
the  military  service,  and  to  suggest  arming  any  troops  with  breech-loading 
rifles  was  thought  to  be  almost  lunacy,  while  to  actually  do  such  a  thing  was 
believed  to  be  an  innovation  but  little  short  of  madness. 

Other  ages  and  other  armies  than  ours  have  had  so-called  sharpshooters  in 
them,  but  they  were  mere  nonentities  compared  to  our  regiment.  Ours  was 
the  first  regiment  which  was  ever  actually  armed  with,  and  used  in  battle, 
breech-loading  rifles.  As  the  legend  upon  this  monument  shows,  it  was  re- 
cruited from  the  entire  North,  and  officially  represented  five  States.  It  had 
four  companies  from  New  York,  one  from  Wisconsin,  one  from  Vermont, 
three  from  Michigan,  and  one  from  New  Hampshire.  But  great  as  is  the 
honor  which  belongs  to  General  Berdan  for  organizing  and  arming  our  regi- 
ment, as  much,  if  not  greater,  consideration  is  due  to  the  other  officers  thereof 
for  its  well-earned  reputation.  Lieut.  Cols.  Frederick  Mears,  William  Y.  W. 
Ripley,  and  Casper  Trepp  were  exceptionally  fine  tacticians  and  discipUnarians, 
and  under  their  tutelage  the  regiment  could  not  do  otherwise  than  become 
a  fighting  organization.  Maj.  George  Hastings,  though  by  nature  a  martinet, 
and  not  always  popular,  forced  us  to  respect  him  by  his  bravery  and  gallantry. 
"  Jack  "  Wilson,  as  we  familiarly  called  him,  of  B  Company,  was  by  no  means 
inferior  to  any  of  these  officers.  Captains  Drew,  Nash,  Aschmann,  Win- 
throp,  McLean,  Merriman,  Hetherington,  James  H.  Wilson,  Austin,  Marble^ 
Isler,  Clark,  Bronson,  Wells,  and  Horton  were  all  soldiers  by  instinct,  were 
all  excellent  officers  and  ever  reliable.  But  without  such  material  as  com- 
posed the  enlisted  men  of  our  regiment,  the  efforts  of  even  such  admirable  offi- 
cers as  these  would  have  been  unavailing  and  fruitless.  On  the  whole  our 
regiment  was  admirably  officered,  and  our  success  and  renown  were  due  very 
largely  to  this  fact.  I  shall  permit  others  than  myself  to  speak  specially  of 
the  regiment. 

A  distinguished  military  writer.  Col.  William  F.  Fox,  pays  our  command 
this  handsome  compliment: 

"The  unique  regiment  of  the  war.  Berdan's  Sharpshooters  were  United 
States  troops,  in  which  respect  they  were  different  from  other  volunteer  regi- 
ments. Each  company,  however,  was  furnished  entire  by  some  one  State.  In 
1861,  General  Berdan  received  authority  from  the  War  Department  to  or- 
ganize a  regiment  of  skilled  marksmen  from  companies  to  be  recruited  in 
various  States,  and  in  March,  1862,  it  was  ordered  to  the  Peninsula,  where 
it  was  attached  to  the  Fifth  Corps.  The  men  took  an  active  part  in  the  siege 
of  Yorktown,  their  target  rifles  and  deadly  aim  rendering  the  enemy's  batteries 
■  nearly  useless.  While  there  the  men  were  supplied  with  Sharp's  rifles  of  an 
improved  pattern  and  excellent  finish,  manufactured  expressly  for  their  use. 
.  In  1863,  the  regiment  was  transferred  to  the  Third  Corps,  and  thence,  in 
1864,  to  the  Second.  It  distinguished  itself  at  Chancellorsville,  where  its 
skirmishers  captured  the  Twenty-third  Georgia;  its  loss  in  that  battle  was  11 
killed,  51  wounded  and  6  missing.     At  Gettysburg,  Colonel  Berdan,  with  a 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1075 

detachment  of  his  men,  supported  by  the  Third  Maine,  made  the  important 
and  memorable  reconnoissance  on  the  morning  of  July  2d,  which  developed 
the  movements  of  the  enemy,  but  with  a  severe  loss  to  the  small  number 
engaged.  The  regiment  was  also  hotly  engaged  at  Mine  Run,  where  Lieut. 
Col.  Casper  Trepp,  then  in  command,  was  killed.  Berdan's  United  States 
Sharpshooters  were  the  best  known  of  any  regiment  in  the  army.  It  would 
have  been  difficult  to  have  raised  in  any  one  State  a  regiment  equal  to  Berdan's 
requirements.  No  recruit  was  eligible  that  could  not  make  ten  consecutive 
shots,  whose  aggregate  distance  from  the  centre  of  the  target  would  "  string  " 
less  than  fifty  inches,  an  average  of  less  than  five  inches  for  each  shot.  The 
distance  was  600  feet  at  a  rest,  or  300  feet  off-hand.  Many  of  the  men  could, 
at  that  distance,  put  all  the  ten  shots  inside  the  bull's  eye.  The  class  of  men 
selected  were  also  of  a  high  grade  in  physical  qualifications  and  intelligence. 
*  *  *  Both  of  Berdan's  Regiments,  however,  were  generally  employed 
as  skirmishers,  and,  consequently,  never  suffered  the  severe  losses  incidental 
to  heavy  columns.  They  were  continually  in  demand  as  skirmishers  on  account 
of  their  wonderful  proficiency  as  such,  and  they  undoubtedly  killed  more  men 
than  any  other  regiment  in  the  army." 

Colonel  Fox  also  gives  our  total  enrollment  as  1,392  men,  and  our  killed  and 
wounded  as  546,  and  classifies  us  as  one  of  the  "  300  fighting  regiments  "  of  the 
service.  We  were  in  forty-three  battles  and  skirmishes  —  including  Yorktown, 
Hanover  Court  House,  Mechanicsville,  Gaines'  Mill,  Glendale,  Malvern  Hill, 
Manassas,  Antietam,  Shepherdstown,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Wapping 
Heights,  Kelly's  Ford,  Locust  Grove,  Mine  Run,  The  Wilderness,  Spotsylvania 
Court  House,  Totopotomoy,  Cold  Harbor,  Assault  and  Siege  of  Petersburg, 
Weldon  Railroad,  Strawberry  Plains,  Deep  Bottom,  Boydton  Road,  Big  Bethel, 
Williamsburg,  Savage  Station,  Fredericksburg,  Auburn,  Po  River,  North  Anna, 
South  Mountain  and  Hatcher's  Run.  We  opened  the  ball  and  fired  the  first 
shots  upon  the  Peninsular  campaign. 

In  1865,  the  Sharpshooters,  reduced  to  a  mere  skeleton,  were  disbanded  and 
transferred  to  other  regiments  under  a  most  complimentary  order  from  division 
headquarters. 

Such,  in  brief,  is  the  general  history  of  our  old  regiment.  We  are  justly 
proud  of  it,  and  satisfied  with  our  military  record.  No  other  regiment  in  the 
army  surpassed  us,  or  was  even  to  be  mentioned  with  ours  as  skirmishers. 
We  were  never  worsted  by  the  enemy's  skirmishers  and  never  failed  to  drive 
his  skirmish  lines  whenever  and  wherever  we  met  them.  We  challenge  a 
comparison  with  any  other  organization  ever  put  into  the  field  for  bravery, 
efficiency,  skill,  endurance,  sterling  manhood,  patriotism  and  all,  in  fact,  that 
goes  to  make  up  model  soldiers.  Its  gallantry  and  glory  could  be  particular- 
ized by  the  hour,  but  it  is  unnecessary.  The  Association  which  dedicates  this 
monument  was  formed  June  27,  1888,  at  Albany,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  from  among  members  of  this  regiment.  The  object  of  the  Association 
was,  among  other  things,  to  perfect  an  organization  relative  to  the  selec- 
tion and  erection  of  a  monument  to  our  regiment  on  this  battlefield,  and 
to  consider  such  other  matters  and  business  concerning  this  and  other  regi- 
mental affairs  as  might,  from  time  to  time,  be  brought  before  it.     A  suggestion 


1076  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

was  made  to  erect  a  monument  h?re  to  the  First  and  Second  Regiments  of 
United  States  Sharpshooters,  but  .^e  same  was  not  received  with  favor,  as  the 
Second  Regiment  contained  no  I  w  York  men  and  did  not  fight  with  us  at 
Gettysburg.  On  the  i8th  of  Se;  mber,  1888,  the  Association  resolved  that 
the  four  New  York  companies  or  ■  (A,  B,  D,  and  H)  proceed  to  erect  a  monu- 
ment of  their  own  to  the  First  i.egiment  upon  this  spot,  and  a  committee 
was  chosen  accordingly  for  that  purpose.  The  Michigan,  New  Hampshire, 
and  Wisconsin  companies  of  the  regiment  have  already  put  up  their  own 
respective  monuments  on  different  parts  of  this  battlefield.  Vermont  proposes 
to  erect  a  monument  to  F  Company  in  these  woods,  close  by  ours,  early  next 
autumn.  Then  the  entire  regiment  will  be  properly  represented  at  Gettysburg. 
There  will  be  an  everlasting  fitness  and  propriety  in  these  five  States  remember- 
ing their  brave  sons,  who  were  members  of  this  command.  These  monuments 
will  stand  upon  four  important  positions  of  this  battlefield,  namely, —  these 
woods,  the  Emmitsburg  Road,  Little  Round  Top,  and  Cemetery  Ridge,  at 
all  of  which  places  the  regiment  was  engaged  during  the  three  days  of  the 
contest  here.  So  we  could,  with  propriety,  have  selected  any  one  of  these 
locations  for  the  site  of  our  monument.  It  was  thought,  however,  that  this, 
the  scene  of  our  reconnoissance  and  the  farthest  point  in  this  direction  reached 
by  any  of  our  troops  during  the  battle,  was  the  most  appropriate  spot  on  which 
to  erect  it. 

Just  two  years  ago  to-day,  after  driving  over  the  entire  length  of  our  line 
of  battle,  we  requested  the  guide  accompanying  our  party  to  take  us  to  this 
spot.  Shades  of  sharpshooters!  to  our  utmost  astonishment  the  driver  seemed 
never  to  have  heard  of  it,  and  we  had  to  guide  him  hither,  thinking,  mean- 
while, that  after  all,  such  was  the  vicissitude  of  fame  and  the  fate  of  military 
glory.  Until  the  official  map  of  the  second  day's  battle  was  shown  him,  and 
the  various  features  and  bearings  in  the  vicinity  pointed  out  to  him,  locating 
beyond  all  question  our  position  here,  as  designated  upon  the  map,  the  guide 
was  incredulous  and  sceptical,  and  evidently  regarded  us  as  escaped  lunatics, 
or  something  worse,  and  pitied  our  apparent  ignorance.  When  once  con- 
vinced of  the  correctness  of  our  statement,  however,  the  truth  dawned  upon 
him,  and  that  same  guide  never  fails,  now,  to  bring  his  visitors  to  this  place 
and  to  descant  with  becoming  eloquence  upon  this  great  feat  of  the  sharp- 
shooters and  their  memorable  reconnoissance. 

This  monument  is  erected  to  the  brave  men  of  our  regiment  who  fell  on 
this  battlefield,  but  especially  to  those  of  our  New  York  companies  who  here 
gave  up  their  lives.  The  fact  that  our  granite  memorial  is  not  upon  a  more 
familiar  or  pretentious  part  of  the  battlefield  is  no  objection  to  its  location. 
The  quiet  and  seclusion  of  its  site  commend  themselves  to  our  better  judg- 
ment, and  here  we  may  always  come  to  renew  our  courage  and  loyalty  to  our 
country.  It  will  be  a  continual  reminder  to  those  who  come  after  us,  as  well 
as  to  the  survivors  of  these  four  companies,  so  long  as  any  of  them  remain, 
that  the  great  State  of  New  York  will  never  fail  to  recognize  brave  deeds  and 
heroic  actions  of  her  sons  wheresoever  and  by  whomsoever  of  them  performed. 

Time  and  time's  influence  will  war  against  our  work  of  to-day.  The  beauti- 
ful shaft  before  us  will  decay,  though  it  will  outlive  all  the  survivors  of  the 
regiment  whose  gallant  services  it  commemorates.     Its  solid  foundation  may 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1077 

sink  and  crumble,  but  the  memory  of  the  men  who  died  here  will  never  fail. 
Their  very  names  are,  even  now,  seldom  spoken  and  scarce  remembered;  but 
their  work  and  endurance  here  were  contributions  to  liberty  and  humanity 
everywhere,  which  neither  time  nor  place  can  ever  belittle  or  ignore.  Our 
country  may,  perchance,  but  God  forbid,  falter  in  its  aims,  its  progress,  its 
purposes  and  its  privileges;  our  government  may  yet  be  forced  to  succumb 
to  the  rabble  whose  method  is  madness  and  whose  resolve  is  anarchy;  the 
vain  boast  of  anarchists  and  socialistic  schemers  may  ultimately  prevail  on  this 
continent;  the  deeds  we  laud  to-day  may  be  wholly  rejected,  blotted  out  aivd 
forgotten  by  those  who  come  after  us;  but  the  shots  fired  here  by  us  in  behalf 
of  national  unity,  integrity  and  justice,  will  continue  to  echo  and  re-echO' 
wherever  freedom  and  equality  shall  prevail,  ages  and  ages  hence,  long,  long 
after  we  shall  have  passed  away.  Races  and  clans  may  follow  us  which  will 
characterize  our  efforts  for  the  great  cause  we  clung  to  and  fought  for  from  1861 
to  1865,  ^s  futile  and  fanatical;  but  the  principles  we  then  upheld,  sustained 
and  sought  to  perpetuate  were  bom  with  creation  and  must  be  eternal. 

But  these  same  men  are  rapidly  growing  numerically  less.  They  can  now 
be  readily  counted,  and  there  is  no  means  by  which  our  ranks  can  be  recruited. 

"  Six  thousand  veterans  die  each  year. 
Six  gray-haired  regiments; 
These  two  brigades  the  assembly  hear. 
And  at  sunrise  strike  their  tents." 

A  quarter  of  a  century  ago  we  were  young  and  full  of  hope;  the  world  was 
before  us,  and  we  all  looked  forward  to  good  and  honorable  positions  among 
men.  Had  we  done  naught  for  our  country  but  to  help  win  this  great  battle 
it  would  have  entitled  us  to  our  full  meed  of  glory.  But  we  did  more.  It 
was  our  fortune  to  contribute  to  many  other  Union  successes,  and  upon  numer- 
ous other  fields  was  our  valor  conspicuous  and  our  heroism  abundant. 

May  this  monument  be  a  lasting  memorial,  not  of  the  strife  and  antagonism 
of  the  war,  but  of  the  principles  thereby  settled  and  of  the  peace  following  the 
same.  May  it  continue  to  be  an  enduring  reminder  of  a  Union  saved  and 
perpetuated  to  the  whole  country,  North  and  South,  by  the  valor  and  patriotism 
of  our  volunteer  regiments,  and  be  recognized  as  such  through  all  coming 
generations. 

Have  I  said  too  much  of  our  magnificent  old  regiment?  Is  it  not 
honorable  to  have  been  a  member  of  and  to  have  served  in  such  an  organi- 
zation? Can  any  government,  prince,  or  ruler  bestow  upon  any  person  a 
greater  distinction  than  that  which  we  boast  here  to-day,  namely,  to  have 
been  sharpshooters?  It  is  no  extravagance  for  me  to  observe  that  in  the  legions 
of  Caesar,  among  the  hordes  of  Alaric,  amid  the  Macedonian  phalanxes,  among 
the  eagles  of  France,  or  in  the  battalions  of  England,  not  excepting  Cromwell's 
famous  Ironsides,' no  regiment  ever  existed  to  which  ours  was  second  in  either 
valor  or  efficiency. 

The  universe  looks  with  admiration  upon  and  approves  of  our  thus  honoring 
these  members  of  our  command  who  fell  at  Gettysburg.     Would  that  I  could 


1078  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

speak  in  trumpet  tones  and  in  more  fitting  language  of  their  great  and  memor- 
able services.  Their  honor  and  patriotism  were  as  solid  as  the  foundation 
vipon  which  this  monument  rests;  their  characters  and  heroism  were  as  pure 
as  the  heaven  to  which  it  points.  From  distant  homes  we  have  met  lO  per- 
form this  pleasant  and  agreeable  duty,  though  its  fulfillment  calls  up  sr.d 
memories.  Upon  this  consecrated  spot  we  assemble  to  celebrate  the  occasion 
Avhich  solicits  us;  cast  our  eyes  over  the  past;  say  hail  and  farewell;  bid  one 
another  Godspeed.  In  our  moment  of  parting,  looking  upon  this  beautiful 
and  never-to-be-forgotten  landscape;  remembering  our  hair-breadth  'scapes 
and  glorious  mihtary  record;  pointing  with  just  pride  to  this  beautiful  shaft, — 
We  say  of  our  splendid  old  regiment,  as  was  once  graphically  and  truly  ob- 
served of  a  State  of  the  Federal  Union :  "  There  she  is,  behold  her  and  judge 
for  yourselves.     There  is  her  history;  the  world  knows  it  by  heart." 


ADDRESS  OF  GEN.  HIRAM  BERDAN. 
Mr.  President  and  Comrades: 

So  much  has  been  said  to-day,  and  so  well  said,  not  only  on  the  subject  of 
the  organization  of  the  Sharpshooters,  but  as  to  the  gallant  way  in  which 
they  acquitted  themselves  in  the  field,  that  there  seems  nothing  left  to  you  for 
xne  to  talk  about  which  would  be  appropriate  for  this  occasion. 

Then,  too,  General  Birney,  in  his  report  at  the  time  gave  full  credit  to 
the  important  and  timely  information  gained  by  our  reconnoissance,  and  Gen- 
eral Longstreet  has  repeatedly  stated  that  our  attack  delayed  his  flanking  move- 
ment forty  minutes,  during  which  time  we  reinforced  our  left,  which  was 
weak  and  badly  exposed,  and,  as  he  says,  prevented  him  from  capturing  the 
Round  Top,  "  the  key  to  the  situation,  and  thereby  saved  to  us  the  day  and 
the  cause,  with  all  its  glorious  consequences."  But  as  General  Sickles  says 
in  his  letter  just  read  to  you,  "  all  this  has  passed  into  history,"  and  much  to 
your  credit. 

The  orator  of  the  day  was  one  of  us  on  that  important  occasion,  and  fired 
his  100  shots.  He  gave  you  full  particulars  of  the  reconnoissance;  so,  any- 
thing I  could  say  on  the  subject  would  be  mere  repetition.  But  it  occurred 
to  me  while  sitting  here  to-day,  that  what  passed  through  my  mind  when 
we  came  upon  the  enemy  at  this  very  spot  (where  you  have  erected  this  beauti- 
ful monument),  might  be  of  interest  to  you.  I  will  give  it  to  you,  as  it  is  all 
as  fresh  in  my  mind  to-day  as  it  could  be  if  it  had  occurred  but  yesterday,  for 
the  reason  that  I  seldom  think  of  the  war  without  my  mind  reverting  to  that 
critical  moment,  and  often  with  a  shudder,  when  I  think  what  would  have 
been  the  inevitable  result  to  our  cause  had  we  retired.  But  this  feeling  is 
invariably  followed  with  a  glow  of  satisfaction  when  I  recall  the  fact,  that 
notwithstanding  all  the  danger  which  stared  us  in  the  face,  I  decided  to  attack 
to  get  time  to  strengthen  our  left.  The  following  are  the  facts  and  reflections 
briefly  stated.  The  bushes  were  high;  so,  in  order  to  prevent  a  surprise,  I  rode 
in  advance  of  the  line.  I  came  on  General  Wilcox's  brigade  at  this  point, 
liis  men  evidently  had  orders  not  to  fire  until  fired  upon.     I  saw  the  heads 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1079 

of  men  sticking  out  from  behind  trees  about  150  yards  off,  and  a  large  body 
of  troops  farther  back  advancing  under  cover  of  the  wood.  Colonel  Herbert, 
who  commanded  a  regiment  in  this  brigade,  says,  that  he  gave  orders  "  not  to 
fire  unless  we  fired  first,  and  if  we  fired  to  shoot  that  officer  "  (referring  to  me). 
This  was  the  state  of  affairs  when  the  reflections  referred  to  passed  through 
my  mind,  which  were  as  follows:  I  reasoned  to  myself  that  I  was  ordered 
to  find  the  enemy.  I  have  done  so.  Here  he  is  in  large  force,  marching  to 
our  left.  I  will  retire  and  give  the  alarm.  It  then  occurred  to  me  that  the 
enemy  would  get  where  he  could  open  fire  almost  as  soon  as  I  could  get  back 
to  our  lines,  and  he  would  soon  double  up  with  the  "  Round  Top  "  as  his 
base;  that  I  ought  to  attack  to  get  time.  Then  came  that  awful  feeling  that 
this  would  be  sure  death  to  me  and  the  most  of  my  command.  I  had  realized 
this  feeling  before,  but  never  so  fully,  as  I  had  never  attacked  such  a  heavy 
force,  or  been  so  placed  as  to  be  compelled  to  lead  the  attack  to  make  it 
effective.  I  confess,  comrades,  that  I  then  felt  that  I  could  never  be  blamed 
for  not  attacking  such  a  force  with  less  than  ,300  men.  But  then  came  that 
all  inspiring  feeling  of  loyalty  to  the  Union,  which  on  a  former  occasion  had 
forced  me  to  enter  the  service,  and  now  forced  me  to  decide  to  fight,  and  to 
the  death  if  needs  be;  for  time  we  must  have  at  any  cost.  From  this  moment 
I  never  wavered. 

I  at  once  beckoned  Captain  Briscoe  to  my  side,  and  told  him  to  go  back 
slowly  until  he  was  well  out  of  sight  of  the  enemy,  and  then  run  his  horse  to 
General  Sickles,  and  all  corps  commanders,  also  to  General  Meade,  giving 
the  alarm,  and  to  say  that  I  would  attack  to  get  time  for  them  to  change  direc- 
tion of  the  Third  Corps,  and  to  bring  other  troops  to  our  left.  I  sat  quietly  for 
him  to  get  out  of  the  way,  and  to  my  surprise  in  a  few  seconds  he  came  back 
and  said  "  Good-by,  Colonel;"  and  then  he  left,  full  of  feeling  readily  to  be 
seen  in  his  face  and  voice.  Briscoe  was  a  fine  officer,  and  I  was  glad  to  see 
liis  name  with  mine  in  the  honorable  mention  of  this  reconnoissance.  As  soon 
as  he  was  safe,  I  then  gave  the  order, —  "  Follow  me,  advance  firing." 

And  to  you,  comrades,  who,  to  a  man,  advanced  firing  with  such  spirit  and 
audacity  as  to  make  General  Longstreet  believe  (as  he  says  that  he  did)  that 
you  were  backed  by  a  strong  force,  history  will  do  full  credit  and  justice. 
I  recall  with  pleasure  the  fact  that  I  conceived  the  idea  of  raising  a  corps  of 
sharpshooters,  which  had  to  prove  their  skill  by  a  severe  shooting  test  before 
they  could  be  mustered  in;  and  my  having  obtained  breech-loaders  for  them 
after  a  tremendous  struggle  lasting  many  months;  also  having  asked  to  be 
allowed  to  make  this  reconnoissance.  But  all  this  gives  little  pleasure  com- 
pared to  the  glorious  satisfaction  I  feel  for  having  decided  here,  with  all  the 
chances  of  death  against  me,  not  to  retire,  but  to  fight.  Indeed  it  was  the  most 
critical  moment  in  my  life,  and  no  act  of  mine  gives  me  so  much  pleasure  to 
reflect  on  as  this.  For  to  me  it  seemed,  at  the  time,  clearly  the  turning  point  of 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and,  therefore,  of  the  war.  The  question  of  Union  or 
no  Union,  in  my  judgment,  at  the  time,  might  have  turned  upon  my  decision 
to  fight  or  retire,  or  I  certainly  would  have  retired. 

I  regret  the  loss  of  our  brave  comrades  who  fell  in  making  this  attack.  -  But 
I  ask  you  if  the  result  has  not  justified  the  sacrifice. 


^o8o  [New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 
15th  and  50th 

NEW  YORK 

ENGINEERS 

HEADQUARTERS  A.  P. 

(Right  Side.) 

50TH  New  York  Engineers 

,  Mustered  in  September  18,  1861. 

Mustered  out  June  13,  1865.  ; 

Participated  in  all  the  Campaigns 

OF  THE  Army  of  the  Potomac 

ending  at  Appomattox 

(Left  Side.) 

15TH  New  York  Engineers 

Mustered  in  June  17,  1861. 

Mustered  out  July  2,  1865. 

Participated  in  all  the  Cami-aigns 

,  OF  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 

■   ending  at.  Appomattox   , 


.r.  B,  ilk  U.N  PKINT. 


15th   and  50th    new   YORK   ENGINEERS 
On  Pleasanton  Avenue. 


F.  J.  SEVERENCE,  PHOTO. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  io8i 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

15th  and  50th  regiments  ENGINEERS. 

"  ENGINEER  BRIGADE." 

September  17,  1890. 

Address  of  Capt.  John  T.  Davidson. 
Comrades  and  Fellow  Citizens: 

The  reasons  for  our  meeting  to-day  to  dedicate  a  monument  to  the  memory 
of  the  Engineer  Brigade,  Army  of  the  Potomac,  brings  to  mind  the  valuable 
services  to  the  government  which  they  rendered  in  the  memorable  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  which  has  been  by  many  denominated  as  the  turning  point  of  the 
great  Rebellion. 

It  was  Lee's  second  attempt  to  invade  Northern  soil,  and  his  second  defeat 
in  such  an  attempt.  A  brief  reference  to  the  origin  of  the  events  which  finally 
culminated  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  may  not  be  entirely  uninteresting. 

No  doubt  many  of  us  can  well  remember  the  numerous  strifes  and  discords 
between  the  people  of  the  North  and  South  upon  the  question  of  slavery. 
While  the  North  looked  upon  the  institution  as  being  in  contravention  to  the 
principles  of  a  republican  form  of  government,  still  Northerners  were  not 
disposed  to  interfere  with  it  in  the  States  where  it  then  existed,  but  they  did 
propose  and  openly  declared  that  it  should  not  be  extended  beyond  those  limits. 
The  South,  on  the  other  hand,  was  constantly  devising  means  by  which  the 
institution  could  be  extended,  and  the  Mexican  War,  when  looked  upon  from 
a  correct  standpoint,  was,  in  fact,  a  war  of  conquest  brought  about  for  the  sole 
purjjose  of  obtaining  more  territory  into  which  slavery  could  be  carried,  and 
it  may  well  be  said  that  the  doom  of  slavery  upon  the  American  continent  takes 
its  date  from  the  inauguration  of  the  war  with  Mexico.  This  was  success- 
ful on  the  part  of  the  government  in  wresting  from  a  weak  power  the  soil  of  a 
large  territory,  which  was  added  to  the  domain  of  the  United  States. 

While  Mason  and  Dixon's  Une  had  been  erected  as  a  perpetual  barrier, 
north  of  which  the  institution  was  not  to  go,  squatter  sovereignty  was  finally 
adopted  by  the  party  in  power  as  the  principle  which  should  govern  the  settle- 
ment of  this  newly-acquired  territory,  and  in  the  admission  of  Kansas  and 
Nebraska  as  States  into  the  Union  it  was  a  race  between  the  North  and  South, 
as  to  which  should  emigrate  the  largest  number  of  squatters  into  those  States, 
and  thereby  settle  the  question  whether  they  should  be  slave  or  free  States. 
For  years  the  struggle  went  on  without  settlement,  until  thirty  years  ago, 
at  this  very  time,  in  the  great  political  campaign  of  that  year,  it  was  openly 
declared  by  the  Southern  leaders  that  if  Abraham  Lincoln  should  be  elected 
President  of  the  United  States  the  cause  would  be  sufficient  to  dissolve  the 
Union,  and  if  it  could  not  be  done  peacefully,  it  would  be  by  force  of  arms. 

The  people  of  the  North  were  in  no  condition  to  believe  that  these  threats 
would  be  attempted  to  be  carried  into  execution.  They  were  firm  in  their 
convictions  in  what  they  believed  to  be  right,  and  could  not  be  easily  turned 


io82  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

from  them;  still,  they  were  too  much  engaged  in  their  civil  pursuits  to  give 
any  attention  to  matters  pertaining  to  war. 

It  must  be  conceded  that  the  people  of  the  North,  as  a  general  rule,  had 
none  of  the  elements  of  a  military  spirit,  and  rpally  looked  upon  war  as  too 
barbarous  to  be  engaged  in  by  a  civilized  people,  especially  as  among  them- 
selves, and  many  wondered  if  it  could  be  possible  that  the  people  of  the  South 
would  attempt  to  destroy  the  nation  by  force.  Was  there  any  cause  for  such 
a  movement?  Everybody  answered  in  the  negative,  and  thereby  the  conclusion 
was  easily  reached  that  better  counsels  would  prevail,  and  the  many  rash 
threats  made  by  the  South  would  fail  entirely  for  the  want  of  support.  But 
the  sequel  proved  that  the  South  meant  war,  and  while  the  people  of  the 
North  were  not  a  unit  upon  all  the  disturbing  issues,  the  first  gun  upon  Sumter 
showed  that  all  were  a  unit  upon  the  one  question,  that  the  Union  of  all  the 
States  under  one  government  must,  and  should,  be  preserved. 

It  is  evident  from  all  the  facts  that  the  magnitude  of  the  rebellion  which 
followed  was  not  comprehended  at  that  time  by  the  wisest  men  of  either  the 
North  or  South.  The  South  believed  that  it  would  have  many  aiders  and 
abettors  in  the  North;  that  by  the  spilling  of  a  very  little  blood,  the  North 
would  yield  the  point  and  consent  to  a  separation,  while  the  North  believed 
that  7S,ooo  troops  and  three  months'  time  would  easily  quell  the  riot;  but 
time  showed  that  neither  prophecy  was  correct.  The  fact  that  it  took  millions 
of  men  and  billions  of  treasure  to  quell  that  little  disturbance  is  now  familiar 
to  every  one.  Political  lines  were  entirely  obliterated  on  the  Union  side,  so 
far  as  they  related  to  the  Federal  army.  The  question  of  slavery,  although  the 
primary  cause  of  the  rebellion,  was  entirely  forgotten  and  ignored,  the  only 
question  bedng,  shall  the  Union,  undivided,  be  maintained,  or  shall  it  be  sev- 
ered? And  upon  this  issue  alone  the  contest  was  waged  for  four  long  years,  and 
is  now  recorded  in  history  as  one  of  the  greatest  rebellions  known  to  mankind. 

It  was  an  honor  to  be  one  of  the  men  who  fought  upon  the  American  side 
in  the  Revolution.  It  was  an  honor  to  be  one  of  the  defenders  of  the  Nation 
in  the  war  with  England,  in  1812.  Brave  men  fought  for  the  government  in 
the  Mexican  War;  and  there  is  no  question  as  to  the  honor  which  attaches  to 
every  veteran  on  the  side  of  the  Union  in  the  great  Rebellion.  It  matters 
not  whether  he  occupied  a  high  or  low  position,  this  honor  will  follow  him 
and  his  descendants  for  all  time  to  come. 

The  right  to  secede  by  any  state  or  number  of  states  was  not  reserved  in 
the  formation  of  the  national  government,  and  the  states  that  were  thereafter 
erected  were  bought  and  paid  for  from  the  funds  belonging  to  all  the  states 
and  hence  owned  by  them  all,  and  the  idea  of  such  a  state  seceding  from  its 
■owner  cannot  be  sustained  upon  principle,  but  is  simply  a  question  of  power. 

The  War  of  the  Rebellion  was  forced  upon  us,  and  what  a  change  in  the 
affairs  of  the  people  at  once  took  place!  The  farmer  left  his  plow  in  the  fur- 
row, the  mechanic  his  tools  upon  his  bench,  the  teacher  his  school  without 
a  head,  the  ministers  empty  pulpits,  the  physicians  their  patients  to  recover 
without  the  aid  of  medicine,  the  lawyers  their  briefs  unfinished,  the  merchants 
their  business  in  charge  of  the  gentler  sex,  and  all  engaged  in  the  arts  of  war. 

In  a  word,  the  whole  North  was  turned  from  civil  pursuits  into  a  military 


New  York  at  Gettysburg,  1083 

camp  and  training  school.  It  must  be  admitted  that  in  the '  beginning  the 
people  in  the  -South  were  better  prepared  for  war  than  were  those  of  the  North. 
They  were  not  only  so  by  education,  but  they  were  prepared  in  advance. 

It  will  not  be  disputed  that  engineering  in  the  time  of  war  is  the  highest 
branch  of  military  service.  Charles  B.  Stuart  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  was  a  civil 
engineer  who  stood  high  in  his  profession  in  his  State,  and  to  him  must  be 
given  the  main  credit  of  raising  volunteers  from  the  civil  walks  of  life  to  per- 
form the  duties  of  engineers  in  the  field  in  time  of  war. 

His  ideas  were  that  men  possessed  of  the  intelligence  of  the  volunteer  soldier 
from  the  North  would  make  the  best  engineers  in  the  world,  and  his  ideas, 
when  put  into  execution,  proved  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  who  were  conversant 
with  their  services,  the  truth  of  his  predictions.  He  finally  obtained  permission 
from  the  President  to  raise  a  regiment  of  engineers.  He  expected  it  would  be 
an  independent  organization,  but  as  it  was  raised  mainly  in  New  York,  Gov- 
ernor Morgan  insisted  that  it  should  be  known  as  New  York  troops,  and  the 
"  Fiftieth  New  York  Volunteers  "  was  given  as  its  title,  by  which  it  was  there- 
after known. 

On  the  17th  day  of  September,  1861,  at  the  city  of  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  the  regi- 
ment was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  and  the  next  day  (the  i8th) 
it  started  for  the  front,  where  in  due  time  it  arrived,  and  where  it  remained 
until  the  close  of  the  war  in  June,  1865,  when  it  was  honorably  discharged  in 
the  same  city  from  which  it  started  in  1861,  and  to-day  being  the  twenty-ninth 
anniversary  of  that  muster  into  the  United  States  service,  makes  it  a  fitting  time 
for  the  dedication  of  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  its  services  while  in  the 
field. 

I  cannot  give  a  complete  history  of  the  origin  of  the  Fifteenth.  Its  first 
colonel,  John  McLeod  Murphy,  was  a  regular  army  or  navy  officer  by 
education,  and  he  conceived  the  idea  of  making  his  regiment  also  a  regiment 
of  engineers.  His  headquarters  were  in  New  York  City,  and  his  first  recruits 
were  mainly  from  that  city.  Six  companies  were  afterwards  recruited  in 
expectation  of  joining  the  Fiftieth,  but  that  regiment  being  full  they  were 
assigned  to  the  Fifteenth.  Colonel  Murphy  remained  with  the  regiment  for 
about  two  years,  when  he  resigned  to  take  part  in  another  branch  of  the  service. 
The  regiment  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war  with  Colonel  Brainard 
in  command.  He  had  served  with  the  Fiftieth  and  was  wotmded  at  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg. 

The  two  regiments  with  four  companies  of  regular  engineers,  under  com- 
mand of  Captain  Cross,  were  brigaded  together  and  placed  under  command  of 
Brigadier  General  Woodbury,  and  were  known  while  under  his  command  by 
the  familiar  title  of  "  Woodbury's  Engineers."  General  Woodbury  was  as- 
signed to  other  duties  early  in  the  spring  of  1863,  and  Brig.  Gen.  H.  W.  Ben- 
ham  assumed  command  of  the  Engineer  Brigade,  which  was  ever  after  known 
as  the  "  Engineer  Brigade,  Army  of  the  Potomac." 

The  Fiftieth,  with  the  regulars,  laid  two  bridges  at  Franklin's  Crossing,  about 
two  miles  below  Fredericksburg,  June  5,  1863,  and  on  that  day  Captain  Cross, 
in  command  of  the  four  companies  of  regulars,  was  killed.  At  the  same  time 
the  Fiftieth  lost  fourteen  men  killed  and  wounded.  Captain  Cross  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Captain  TurnbuU  of  the  regular  army. 


1084  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Immediately  after  the  organization  of  the  brigade,  shops  were  temporarily 
built  near  the  Navy  Yard  in  Washington,  which  were  occupied  by  at  least  one 
company  of  the  Fiftieth  during  the  entire  war,  and  it  was  from  these  shops  that 
pontoons  with  all  of  the  paraphernalia  for  bridges  were  built  and  sent  where 
needed  by  the  army  in  the  field,  their  transportation  being  both  by  land  and 
water.  Continued  practical  experience  soon  demonstrated  the  fitness  of  volun- 
teers to  perform  the  duties  of  engineers.  Tliey  did  not  become  soldiers  fOr 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  employment  or  business,  or  for  the  pay  it  might 
bring,  but,  on  the  contrary,  they  were  soldiers  on  account  of  their  loyalty  and 
patriotism  to  their  government. 

The  Fiftieth  and  Fifteenth  Engineers  were  not  unlike  the  rest  of  the  Union 
volunteers,  and  it  was  but  a  short  time  before  they  became  as  proficient  in  the 
art  of  practical  engineering  as  were  the  regulars.  While  the  building  of  forts 
and  intrenchments  formed  no  small  part  of  their  duties,  the  laying  and  build- 
ing of  bridges  across  narrow  and  wide  streams  were  of  the  greatest  value  to 
the  army  in  its  thousands  of  movements  in  the  field.  It  was  always  the  first 
on  the  ground  to  span  the  river  with  a  good  pontoon  bridge,  over  which  the 
army  with  its  infantry,  artillery  and  cavalry  could  and  did  pass  over,  dry  shod 
and  in  perfect  safety.  Its  services  in  this  direction  won  the  respect  and  ad- 
miration of  the  world.  I  believe  I  state  a  fact  which  cannot  be  truthfully  con- 
troverted, that  no  army  known  to  history  was  better  served  in  its  engineer 
department,  than  was  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  was  not  uncommon  for 
us  to  build  a  bridge  300  feet  in  length  in  thirty  minutes. 

The  greatest  difficulty  which  the  engineers  experienced  was  in  transporting 
the  long  heavy  pontoon  trains  across  the  country.  The  Virginia  mud  and 
the  thousand  obstacles  encountered  while  dragging  pontoon  trains  over  the 
country  will  never  be  forgotten  by  the  boys  who  trained  in  the  Engineer 
Brigade.  It  has  been  said  that  few,  in  comparison  with  the  losses  in  other 
branches  of  the  service,  suffered  from  bullets  in  the  Engineer  Brigade;  but,  on 
account  of  the  severe  service  required,  more  constitutions  were  wrecked  in  this 
than  in  any  other  branch  of  the  service.  But  our  exemption  from  Rebel  bul- 
lets was  not  complete,  and  the  mention  of  Fredericksburg  will  be  a  re- 
minder of  the  first  severe  baptism  of  blood  the  brigade  received.  Our 
losses  were  greater  on  this  occasion  than  at  any  time  afterwards,  because  this 
experience  fully  demonstrated  that  pontoon  bridges  could  not  be  laid  in 
face  of  the  enemy,  especially  when  they  were  entirely  under  cover  of  their 
rifle  pits  and  intrenchments,  and  thereafter  the  rule  was  to  first  clear  the  oppo- 
site banks  from  Rebel  muskets. 

The  two  bridges  which  this  brigade  laid  across  the  Potomac  at  Edwards 
Ferry,  over  which  the  entire  Army  of  the  Potomac  crossed  to  meet  Lee  upon 
this  memorable  battlefield,  and  the  two  afterwards  at  Berlin,  ten  miles  above 
Edwards  Ferry,  over  which  it  crossed  in  its  return  to  Virginia,  were  remark- 
able structures,  under  all  the  circumstances. 

The  river  at  these  two  points,  as  I  now  recollect,  was  nearly  1,700  feet  in 
width,  and  for  four  days  and  nights  the  two  bridges  at  each  place  were  in  con- 
stant use,  and,  as  is  often  said,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  no  reason  to 
complain  of  the  bridges  which  carried  them  safely  over.    Except  for  the  timely 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1085 

services  rendered  by  the  Engineer  Brigade  it  is  not  an  unreasonable  prediction 
that  the  Capital  City  of  the  Nation  would  not  have  escaped  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  as  the  usual  ways  of  crossing  streams  over  long-established 
highways  and  permanent  bridges,  oftentimes  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  were 
entirely  obviated  by  the  temporary  bridges  and  highways  built  by  the  engi- 
neers, and  always  at  the  proper  time  and  place  needed. 

They  also  served  in  a  wonderful  manner  and  on  numerous  occasions,  when 
following  up  a  retreating  enemy,  even  though  he  burned  his  bridges  behind 
him.  The  building  of  pontoon  bridges  was  brought  to  such  perfection  that 
streams  were  no  obstacles  to  the  movements  of  the  army.  As  I  have  before 
said,  our  main  difificulty  was  in  transporting  these  heavy  trains  across  the 
country;  but  this  was  finally  overcome  in  a  measure  by  the  u.  of  canvas 
boats,  which  were  much  lighter  than  the  old  wooden  pontoons,  and  conse- 
quently could  be  moved  more  rapidly,  but  they  were  not  sufficient  for  long 
bridges  or  for  continuous  use.  For  quick  transportation  and  short  bridges  they 
proved  a  success;  for  all  other  kinds,  the  old,  heavy  pontoons  were  always 
in  demand. 

The  mortality  of  the  brigade  has  been  heavy,  for  death  has  not  been  slow 
to  claim  its  victims,  both  during  and  since  the  war.  General  Benham,  Colonels 
Stuart,  Pettis,  Spaulding  and  Ford,  Captains  Schenck,  Robbins,  Middleton, 
Morgan,  Perkins  and  Smalley,  Lieutenant  Langdon,  Adjutant  Gwin,  Assistant 
Surgeon  Baum,  and  Gen.  John  B.  Murray  are  among  the  officers  who  are 
known  to  have  passed  to  the  silent  majority,  and  how  many,  many  more  of  non- 
commissioned officers  and  men  have  also  been  added  to  the  list  of  the  dead, 
can  only  be  known  by  the  great  Timekeeper  of  the  lives  of  all  the  human 
family.  The  lives  of  men  who  served  their  country  in  its  greatest  struggle  for 
existence  ought  to  be,  and  I  believe  have  been  and  will  be,  so  pure  and  upright 
as  to  warrant  the  prediction  that  when  the  last  river  is  crossed  a  never-ending 
home  with  the  blessed  is  assured.  We  remember  the  dead  by  annually  covering 
with  flowers,  earth's  choicest  production,  the  graves  of  our  fallen  heroes;  we 
ought  also  to  remember  the  living  for  the  noble  part  each  took  in  preserving 
the  Nation. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  recount  the  thousands  of  hardships  and  exposures  with 
which  they  were  constantly  brought  in  contact  during  their  several  terms  of 
service,  because  those  things  are  universally  known  and  admitted;  but  let  us 
also  remember  that  the  meridian  of  life  has  been  passed  by  all,  or  nearly  all 
of  the  veterans  of  the  Union  army,  and  a  government  with  a  treasury  over- 
fioAving  with  its  wealth,  made  so  by  these  men's  services,  must  deal  honestly 
with  its  survivors,  their  widows,  children  and  dependents,  by  paying  them  the 
debt  which  has  been  long  past  due. 

The  great  State  of  New  York  has  not  been  behind  its  sister  States  in  grant- 
ing liberal  amounts  for  the  erection  of  suitable  monuments  upon  this  noted 
battlefield  to  the  memory  of  its  noble  sons  for  the  part  they  took  in  stopping 
the  invasion  and  turning  back  the  hordes  of  men  loaded  with  treason  and  re- 
bellion from  Northern  soil.  To  the  noble  Empire  State  we  extend  hearty  thanks 
for  this  remembrance. 


io86  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  battle  of  Gettysburg  fully  demonstrated  to  all  mankind  that  the  great 
Southern  chieftain  never  had  success,  except  within  the  borders  of  his  own 
native  State;  and  then,  when  matched  against  the  indomitable  Grant,  his 
military  career,  such  as  it  was,  came  suddenly  and  forever  to  an  inglorious  end. 

This  beautiful  monument  is  in  the  form  of  a  castle,  the  badge  of  the  Engineer 
Brigade.  It  properly  represents  the  services  which  the  brigade  performed  dur- 
ing the  War  of  the  RebelHon.  No  passing  veteran  will  have  to  be  told  for 
what  particular  branch  of  the  service  it  has  been  erected.  Its  form  and  archi- 
tecture speak  louder  than  words,  that  it  was  erected  to  perpetuate  the  memory 
of  the  valuable  services  performed  by  the  loyal  veterans  of  the  Engineer 
Brigade  in  one  of  the  greatest  battles  fought  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

Comrades,  is  it  not  fitting  that  while  we  dedicate  to-day  this  monument, 
erected  with  the  joint  funds  of  the  Fiftieth  and  Fifteenth  New  York  Engineers, 
furnished  by  the  State  from  which  both  volunteered,  we  also  dedicate  ourselves 
to  a  deeper  loyalty  to  our  country;  a  stronger  faith  in  its  prosperity;  a  fuller 
and  stronger  confidence  in  the  principles  of  a  republican  form  of  government, 
and,  withal,  a  full  determination  to  maintain  under  all  circumstances,  even 
though  it  cost  thousands  of  lives  and  millions  of  treasure,  the  constitution 
and  laws  of  the  United  States  and  of  our  own  Empire  State,  and  the  mainte- 
nance of  the  Union,  undivided,  now  and  forever. 


THE  ENGINEER  BRIGADE. 


FIFTEENTH  NEW  YORK  ENGINEERS. 

In  organizing  the  great  armies  of  the  Civil  War,  authority  was  given  to  recruit 
regiments  for  the  infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery  arms  of  the  service,  but  none 
for  the  engineer  corps.  The  military  authorities  "seemed  forgetful  of  the  fact 
that  all  armies  had  their  engineer  regiments,  and  that  a  force  of  pontoniers, 
sappers,  and  miners  were  absolutely  necessary  in  the  course  of  every  well  con- 
ducted campaign.  Some  regiments  were  recruited  with  the  expectation  of 
serving  in  the  engineer  corps  if  permitted,  but  they  were  obliged  to  enlist, 
organize  and  serve  for  awhile  as  infantry  commands. 

The  Fifteenth  New  York  Engineers  was  organized  in  New  York  City,  in  May, 
1861.  It  was  accepted  by  the  State  and  designated  as  the  Fifteenth  Regiment 
of  Infantry.  The  work  of  recruiting  and  organizing  was  commenced  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1861, —  before  war  was  declared, —  by  Hon.  John  McLeod  Murphy,  who 
was  then  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  and  represented  one  of  the  districts  in 
the  city  of  New  York. 

At  the  first  call  for  troops,  in  April,  1861,  the  headquarters  of  the  regiment 
were  established  at  No.  600  Broadway,  and  the  work  of  enlisting  men  was 
actively  prosecuted.  Recruits  came  forward  rapidly,  for  the  idea  of  raising  an 
engineer  regiment  was  a  popular  one.  On  May  9th,  the  Fifteenth  having  been 
accepted  by  the  State  received  its  numerical  designation.    An  election  for  field 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1087 

officers  was  held,  one  of  whom  declined  and  another  was  dismissed  after  serving 
a  few  months.    As  finally  organized,  the  field  officers  of  the  regiment  were : 

Colonel.  John  McLeod  Murphy. 

Lieutenant  Colonel.  Clinton  G.  Colgate, 

Major.  James  A.  Magruder, 

On  June  3,  1861,  the  Fifteenth  encamped  at  Willett's  Point,  in  New  York 
Harbor,  where,  on  the  17th,  it  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for 
two  years.  In  organizing  and  equipping  the  regiment  the  Union  Defence 
Committee,  of  New  York  City,  contributed  $4,494.07,  and  the  State,  up  to 
August  15th,  expended  $46,595.03,  not  including  subsistence  and  quarters.  The 
men  were  armed  with  smooth  bore  muskets,  calibre  69,  model  of  1842;  but  on 
arriving  at  the  front  these  were  exchanged  for  Enfield  rifles,  calibre  57. 

The  regiment  broke  camp,  June  29th,  and  proceeded  by  steamer  to  Elizabeth- 
port,  N.  J.,  where  a  train  on  the  Camden  and  Amboy  Railroad  was  waiting  to 
convey  the  men  to  Washington.  The  regiment  arrived  at  the  Capital  the  next 
day  at  evening.  After  encamping  there  for  three  weeks  the  Fifteenth  was 
ordered  into  Virginia,  and  assigned  to  McCunn's  Brigade,  then  encamped  near 
Fairfax  Seminary.  While  here  the  men  were  engaged  in  picket  duty  at  Falls 
Church  and  Bailey's  Cross  Roads;  also,  in  cutting  timber  and  constructing 
fortifications  at  Fort  Ward.  On  August  4th  the  regiment  was  transferred  to 
Franklin's  Brigade,  and,  on  September  26th,  to  Newton's  Brigade. 

Colonel  Murphy,  after  persistent  efforts,  succeeded  in  obtaining  an  order 
transferring  the  Fifteenth  to  the  engineer  corps,  in  accordance  with  his  original 
plans.  In  compliance  with  this  order  the  regiment  returned  to  Washington, 
October  29th,  and  encamped  near  the  Navy  Yard,  where  it  spent  the  fall  and 
winter  receiving  instruction  and  drilling  as  engineers.  On  March  19,  1862, 
having  been  assigned  to  the  engineer  forces  under  General  Woodbury,  the 
regiment  moved  to  Fairfax  Seminary  where  it  joined  General  McDowell's  Corps. 
On  April  loth  it  marched  to  Cheeseman's  Landing  on  the  Potomac,  and, 
embarking  on  transports,  sailed  for  Fort  Monroe  with  McClellan's  army  which 
was  then  entering  upon  its  famous  Peninsular  campaign.  The  regiment  was 
assigned  to  the  Engineer  Brigade,  commanded  by  Gen.  Daniel  P.  Woodbury, 
which  was  composed  of  the  Fifteenth  and  Fiftieth  New  York,  and  a  battalion  of 
Unitfxl  States  engineers  under  Capt.  J.  C.  Duane. 

During  the  siege  of  Yorktown  the  Fifteenth  was  actively  engaged  in  engineer 
work.  Part  of  the  men  were  employed  in  constructing  roads  and  bridges,  while 
others  were  busy  in  making  fascines  and  gabions,  or  throwing  up  lines  of  earth- 
works. After  the  evacuation  of  Yorktown  the  regiment  moved  up  the  York 
River  to  West  Point,  where  three  companies, —  A,  B,  and  E, —  under  command 
of  Colonel  Murphy,,  rendered  efficient  service  in  assisting  the  debarkation  of 
Franklin's  Division,  a  movement  which  was  made  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy. 
The  engineers  constructed  rafts  of  pontoon  boats  lashed  together  in  pairs  to 
form  approaches,  with  canal  boats  similarly  coupled  to  continue  this  floating  pier 
far  enough  into  deep  water  to  enable  the  steamers  to  land  the  troops. 


io88  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Owing  to  the  peculiar  nature  of  their  work  the  companies  were  separated 
much  of  the  time,  their  services  being  in  constant  demand  at  various  pomts 
along  the  lines  of  communications  as  well  as  along  the  line  of  defences.  When 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  moved  up  the  Peninsula,  detachments,  from  the 
Fifteenth  preceded  its  columns,  rebuilding  bridges  and  clearing  away  obstruc- 
tions. Five  long  bridges  were  laid  across  the  Chickahominy  River  and  its 
marshy  approaches,  in  the  construction  of  which  the  Fifteenth  rendered  meri- 
torious service. 

On  its  return  to  Washington  after  the  Peninsular  campaign  the  regiment  was 
mustered  to  receive  the  difference  in  pay  between  engineers  and  infantry,  the 
increased  rate  being  allowed  from  October  25,  1861,  the  time  when  it  ceased  to 
serve  as  infantry. 

The  companies  were  next  employed  in  work  on  the  fortifications  of  Washing- 
ton until  November  16,  1862,  when  they  rejoined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Some  time  was  spent  in  building  docks  at  Belle  Plain,  on  Potomac  Creek,  to 
facilitate  the  landing  of  army  supplies,  and  then  the  regiment  moved  to  Fal- 
mouth on  the  Rappahannock. 

The  Fifteenth,  under  command  of  Major  Magruder,  laid  two  of  the  pontoon 
bridges  that  spanned  the  Rappahannock  at  Fredericksburg,  over  which  part  of 
the  army  passed  on  its  way  to  the  battle  which  occurred  there,  December  13, 
1862. 

Before  daybreak  of  the  nth,  in  the  frosty  night  air,  seven  companies  of  the 
Fifteenth  Engineers  unloaded  their  bridge  train  at  the  river  in  response  to  the 
signal  guns  farther  up  the  stream.  At  7  a.  m.  the  abutment  was  begun,  and  in 
an  hour  the  bridge  was  nearly  completed,  when  the  enemy,  posted  on  the 
opposite  shore,  opened  with  musketry  on  the  pontoniers.  This  fire  was 
promptly  and  gallantly  responded  to  by  the  reserve  companies;  but  the  men  on 
the  bridge  were  driven  from  their  work,  until  the  Confederates  were  dispersed 
by  the  artillery.  Work  was  immediately  resumed,  and  the  bridge  was  com- 
pleted at  9  o'clock.  In  this  affair  several  of  the  Fifteenth  were  killed  or 
wounded,  and  some  of  the  pontoon  boats  were  riddled  with  bullets. 

In  the  afternoon  Major  Magruder  with  five  companies, —  B,  C,  I,  E,  and  A, — 
marched  to  where  another  bridge  was  being  laid  below  the  railroad.  Here,  four 
pontoons  were  manned  by  men  from  Company  E  as  oarsmen.  In  these 
boats  100  men  of  the  Eighty-ninth  New  York  Infantry  were  ferried  across 
the  river  under  fire,  and  landed  on  the  farther  shore,  where  they  drove  away 
the  Confederate  sharpshooters  and  enabled  the  pontoniers  to  complete  their 
bridge. 

After  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  the  regiment  remained  in  camp  near  Fal- 
mouth until  Burnside's  "  Mud  March,"  in  the  following  month,  when  its  services 
were  needed  in  the  construction  of  corduroy  roads  to  enable  the  artillery  and 
wagon  trains  to  return  to  camp.  Colonel  Murphy  resigned,  December  12,  1862, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Colgate.  Major  Magruder  was  pro- 
moted to  the  vacant  lieutenant  colonelcy. 

During  the  Chancellorsville  campaign.  May,  1863,  the  Fifteenth  assisted  in 
laying  the  numerous  pontoon  bridges  required  in  the  movements  of  General 
Hooker's  army,  and  on  June  Sth,  laid  two  bridges  at  Franklin's  Crossing,  below 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1089 

Fredericksburg,  for  the  reconnoissance  made  by  the  Sixth  Corps  prior  to  the 
general  advance  of  the  army  on  the  Gettysburg  campaign.  In  these  operations 
the  regiment  sustained  a  further  loss  of  men,  killed  or  wounded.  General 
Benham,  who  commanded  the  Engineer  Brigade  at  this  time,  issued  the  follow- 
ing complimentary  order: 

General  Orders  )  "  Headquarters  Engineer  Brigade,  | 

No.  14.  j  May  13,  1863.  j" 

"  The  general  commanding  the  Engineer  Brigade  feels  it  a  duty,  as  well  as  a 
pleasure,  to  testify  to  their  services,  and  express  his  warmest  approbation  of 
their  unremitting  labors  and  gallant  conduct  during  the  late  movement  of  the 
army  across  the  Rappahannock. 

"  This  brigade  (temporarily  kindly  assisted  at  times  by  other  regiments  of 
this  army)  has,  during  the  eight  days'  struggle,  laid  down  and  removed  nine 
different  bridges  over  the  river,  each  from  100  to  140  yards  in  length;  and  five 
of  these  have  been  relaid  at  other  points,  making  fourteen  bridges  in  all,  at 
different  distances  along  the  line  of  the  river,  for  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles.  In 
one  case,  two  bridges  were,  as  ordered,  taken  up  after  darkness  had  set  in  — 
were  transported  some  sixteen  miles  over  bad  roads,  and  were  ready  for  being 
laid  at  the  points  ordered  within  some  ten  to  eleven  hours,  a  feat  believed  to  be 
unprecedented  with  such  bridges,  either  in  our  own  or  any  other  country.  And 
through  all  these  labors  and  exposures  —  whether  in  the  laying  of  the  first 
bridges  when  the  oarsmen  of  the  brigade  so  gallantly  exposed  themselves  (as- 
was  necessary)  more  than  all  others  —  or  in  the  laying  of  the  bridges,  as  in  the 
lower  position  at  Banks'  Ford,  under  a  severe  fire  of  shot  and  shell  —  or  in  the 
heroic  night  struggle  for  the  preservation  and  repairing  of  their  bridges  during 
the  flood  of  the  river  at  the  Upper  Ford,  on  which  so  much  depended  —  in  all 
cases,  from  every  field  officer  in  command  of  a  bridge,  through  every  junior 
officer,  to  the  youngest  private  in  the  brigade  (as  far  as  known  to  your  General), 
the  highest  and  most'  unflinching  devotion  to  duty  has  been  shown ;  and  the 
brigade  deserves,  as  it  has  received,  universal  commendation. 

"  Along  this  line  of  river  it  has  been  wanted  everywhere  —  and  it  has  been 
everywhere  when  wanted;  and  in  this  movement,  at  least,  it  has  earned  the  proud 
motto  of  the  British  Corps  of  Engineers:  'Ubique,  quo  fas  et  gloria  ducunt'  — 
for  it  has  been  everywhere  where  glory  leads. 

"  By  order  of 

"  H.  W.  BENHAM, 

'"  Brigadier  General." 

On  June  13,  1863,  its  two  years'  term  of  enlistment  having  expired,  the 
Fifteenth  New  York  Engineers,  under  command  of  Colonel  Colgate,  marched 
to  Aquia  Creek,  where  it  embarked  the  next  day  on  the  steamer  John  Tucker 
for  Washington.  Proceeding  by  rail  from  there,  via  Baltimore,  Philadelphia, 
Camden  and  Amboy,  the  men  arrived  at  New  York  on  the  17th,  and  were 
mustered  out  of  service,  June  25,  1863. 

69 


logo  New  York  at  Gettysburg, 

The  regiment  had  received  recruits  at  various  times,  all  of  whom  were  enlisted 
to  serve  three  years.  These  men  remained  at  the  front,  and  were  consolidated 
into  a  battalion  of  three  companies  —  A,  B,  and  C, —  that  formed  the  nucleus  for 
a  reorganization  that  preserved  the  name  and  number  of  the  old  regiment  and 
extended  its  history  through  the  war,  winning  for  it  additional  laurels  and 
renown. 

On  October  9,  1863,  a  new  company  —  D  —  which  had  been  enlisted  for  the 
Second  New  York  Engineers,  joined  the  battalion.  '  In  March,  1864,  another 
company,  which  was  recruited  for  the  Fifteenth,  joined,  and  was  designated  as 
Company  E.  In  November,  1864,  seven  new  companies  of  recruits  were  added, 
making  a  full  engineer  regiment  of  twelve  companies,  1,800  strong.  Maj. 
Wesley  Brainerd,  of  the  Fiftieth  New  York  Engineers,  was  promoted  to  the 
colonelcy  of  the  Fifteenth,  with  rank  from  October  15,  1864. 

In  the  spring  of  1864,  the  battalion,  under  command  of  Maj.  Williami  H. 
Ketchum,  was  stationed  at  Fort  Monroe.  A  detachment  of  75  men  were  at 
Rappahannock  Station,  where  they  laid  a  bridge  for  the  crossing  of  the  Ninth 
Corps,  and  in  May  the  rest  of  the  battalion,  numbering  then  about  400  men, 
rejoined  the  army  at  Belle  Plain.  The  five  companies  participated  with  the 
Engineer  Brigade  in  its  various  duties  connected  with  the  movements  during 
General  Grant's  Virginia  campaign,  and  on  June  14,  1864,  assisted  the  Fiftieth 
New  York  in  laying  a  pontoon  bridge  across  the  James  River  at  Fort  Powhatan, 
which  was  2,200  feet  long  and  contained  104  boats,  said  to  be  the  longest  bridge 
of  its  kind  ever  constructed.  The  army  having  invested  Petersburg,  the  Fif- 
teenth Battalion  was  employed  in  building  a  road  from  the  landing  at  City  Point 
to  the  quartermaster's  corrals,  which  it  finished  on  June  27th. 

The  regiment,  under  Colonel  Brainerd  was  present  during  the  succeeding 
operations  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  front  of  Petersburg,  and  the  closing 
campaigns  of  the  war.  Three  companies  accompanied  the  expedition  to  Fort 
Fisher,  N.  C,  where  they  rendered  valuable  services  during  the  operations 
which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  that  stronghold. 

The  war  having  ended  the  regiment  returned  to  Washington,  where  it  was 
mustered  out,  June  14,  1865,  except  Companies  A,  B,  and  D,  which  were 
retained  in  service  until  July  2,  1865. 


THE  FIFTIETH  NEW  YORK  ENGINEERS. 

This  famous  regiment  was  organized  originally  as  an  infantry  command,  but  it 
served  as  such  only  a  short  time.  It  was  recruited  in  the  summer  of  1861, 
under  the  direction  of  Charles  B.  Stuart,  an  experienced  engineer,  who  was 
commissioned  colonel,  with  headquarters  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.  The  various  com- 
panies were  raised  in  the  central  and  western  part  of  the  State. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  three  years, 
September  18,  1861,  at  which  time  it  contained  ten  companies,  numbering  about 
850  officers  and  men.  Subsequently,  in  December,  1863,  the  Fiftieth  received 
two  more  companies,  L  and  M,  and  all  the  companies  were  recruited  up  to  a 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1091 

strength  of  150  each,  making  the  regiment  1,800  strong,  with  three  battalions 
and  three  majors. 

The  regiments  left  its  barracks  at  Elmira,  September  20,  1861,  and  proceeded 
via  New  York  to  Washington,  where  it  arrived  on  the  21st.  After  a  week's  stay 
at  the  Capital  it  was  ordered  to  Hall's  Hill,  Va.,  having  been  assigned  to  Butter- 
field's  Brigade,  of  Fitz  John  Porter's  Division.  It  was  encamped  here  about 
three  weeks,  the  time  being  spent  in  learning  infantry  drill  and  tactics. 

On  October  22,  1861,  one  month  after  leaving  Elmira,  the  Fiftieth  was  de- 
tailed, by  order  of  General  McClellan,  for  duty  as  sappers,  miners,  and  pon- 
toniers,  the  regiment  being  selected  for  this  duty  on  account  of  the  large  number 
of  mechanics  in  its  ranks,  and  the  superior  character  and  intelligence  of  the  men 
as  a  whole.  Moreover,  many  competent  men  had  enlisted  under  the  inducement 
that  the  regiment  was  to  serve  as  engineers.  The  order  detailing  the  Fiftieth  for 
this  special  duty  directed  that  it  should  report  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Alexander, 
of  the  U.  S.  Engineer  Corps,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Returning  to  the  Capital 
the  regiment  went  into  camp  near  the  Navy  Yard,  and  remained  there  five 
months,  the  men  perfecting  themselves  in  pontoon  drill,  receiving  instruction  in 
building  forts  and  earthworks,  and  in  fitting  themselves  for  the  various  duties 
connected  with  the  branch  of  the  service  to  which  they  had  been  assigned. 

The  regiment  broke  camp  at  Washington,  March  19,  1862,  and  marching  to 
Alexandria,  Va.,  embarked  with  General  McCIellan's  army  for  the  Peninsular 
campaign.  It  arrived,  April  16,  1862,  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  where  it  took  an  active 
part  in  the  siege  operations,  building  bridges  and  constructing  earthworks. 
After  the  evacuation  of  Yorktown  the  Fiftieth  accompanied  the  army  up  the 
Peninsula  to  the  line  of  the  Pamunkey  and  Chickahominy  Rivers,  where  their 
services  were  in  constant  demand  in  rebuilding  railroad  bridges  and  in  laying 
pontoons.  The  engineers  preceded  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  its  movement 
to  the  James  River,  constructing  roads  and  laying  bridges  wherever  necessary. 

In  the  withdrawal  of  the  army  from  Harrison's  Landing,  on  the  James,  the 
troops  crossed  the  "  Long  Pontoon  "  near  the  mouth  of  the  Chickahominy,  in 
the  construction  of  which  a  part  of  the  Fiftieth  was  engaged.  For  a  while,  after 
leaving  Harrison's  Landing,  the  regiment  was  divided  into  detachments,  laying 
and  guarding  bridges  at  various  points  along  the  route.  -  During  Pope's  cam- 
paign regimental  headquarters,  with  five  companies,  were  established  at  Alex- 
andria, Va.,  the  other  companies  being  at  Fort  Monroe  and  with  the  main 
army  in  charge  of  the  pontoon  train.  But,  on  September  3,  1862,  the  ten  com- 
panies were  reunited,  and  returned  to  their  former  camp  at  Washington. 

The  regiment  did  not  remain  together  long,  for  on  the  12th,  four  companies, 
under  Lieut.  Col.  William  H.  Pettes,  were  ordered  with  a  pontoon  train  to 
Harper's  Ferry.  This  detachment  laid  the  pontoon  bridges  across  the  Potomac 
and  Shenandoah  Rivers  over  which  McCIellan's  army  crossed  into  Virginia 
after  the  victory  at  Antiatam.  In  tlie  meantime  the  companies  stationed  at 
regimental  headquarters  were  at  work  on  the  defences  of  the  Capital,  strength- 
ening and  repairing  forts  and  bridges,  and  also  in  making  new  pontoon  boats, 
or  repairing  old  ones  which  had  been  damaged  during  the  Peninsular  campaign. 

When  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  General  Burnside,  moved  to  Fal- 
mouth, on  the  Rappahannock  River,  part  of  the  regiment  proceeded  thither  with 


1092  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

the  pontoon  trains,  while  one  detachment,  with  headquarters,  was  stationed  at 
Aquia  Creek  Landing,  on  the  Potomac,  where  the  engineers  busied  themselves 
in  building  docks  and  repairing  the  bridges  on  the  military  railroad  extending 
from  Aquia  Creek  to  Falmouth.  One  company  remained  at  Washington  in  the 
workshops  of  the  regiment. 

On  the  morning  of  December  11,  1862,  two  days  before  the  battle  of  Fred- 
ericksburg, six  companies  of  the  Fiftieth  Engineers,  under  Maj.  Ira  Spaulding, 
laid  three  bridges  across  the  Rappahannock  River  in  front  of  the  city  under  a 
severe  fire  of  the  Confederate  sharpshooters  who  were  strongly  posted  in  houses 
and  rifle  pits  along  the  opposite  bank.  The  lower  bridge  was  under  the  imme- 
diate superintendence  of  Captain  McDonald,  and  the  two  upper  bridges  under 
Captains  Brainerd  and  Ford. 

Major  Spaulding,  in  his  ofificial  report,  says:  "At  about  6  A.  M.,  when  one 
of  the  upper  bridges  and  the  lower  bridge  were  two-thirds  completed,  and  the 
other  about  one-fourth  built,  the  enemy  opened  a  galling  lire  upon  us  at  the 
upper  bridges,  from  the  houses  near  the  shore  and  from  behind  walls  and  fences, 
killing  one  captain  and  two  men,  and  wounding  several  others.  One  bridge  had 
approached  so  near  the  south  shore  that  the  men  at  work  upon  it  were  within 
80  yards  of  the  enemy,  who  were  under  cover,  while  the  infantry  supporting  us 
on  the  flanks  were  at  long  range,  and  could  do  little  damage  to  the  enemy.  My 
men  were  working  without  arms;  had  no  means  of  returning  the  enemy's  fire, 
and  were  driven  from  the  work. 

"  We  made  two  more  unsuccessful  attempts  to  complete  this  bridge,  and  were 
each  time  driven  back  with  considerable  loss  in  killed  and  wounded.  At  the  first 
attempt,  Captain  Brainerd  was  severely  wounded  and  removed  to  the  hospital. 
During  one  of  the  intermissions  between  these  several  attempts  to  complete  the 
bridge,  a  detachment  of  80  men,  volunteers,  as  I  understood,  from  infantry  regi- 
ments, came  down  to  assist  us  in  completing  the  bridge,  but  upon  their  arrival 
near  the  shore  they  could  not  be  induced  to  enter  the  boats  or  go  out  on  the 
bridge. 

"  At  about  3  p.  M.,  it  having  been  determined  to  throw  a  force  of  infantry 
across  the  river,  to  dislodge  the  enemy,  I  detailed  men  to  set  them  across  the 
river  in  pontoon  boats,  and  Lieutenant  Robbins,  of  Company  A,  by  your  orders, 
took  command  of  the  first  boat.  As  soon  as  a  sufficient  number  of  troops  had 
landed  on  the  opposite  shore,  they  formed  under  cover  of  the  bank,  attacked  the 
enemy,  and,  in  a  few  minutes  drove  them  from  their  positions.  When  the  attack 
commenced  we  resumed  the  construction  of  the  bridge,  and,  with  the  assistance 
of  a  detachment  from  the  Fifteenth  Regiment,  New  York  State  Volunteer 
Engineers,  in  about  forty  minutes  the  bridge  was  completed  to  the  opposite 
shore,  and  troops  commenced  crossing. 

"  While  all  this  was  being  done  at  the  upper  bridge,  similar  operations  were 
going  on  at  the  lower.  In  the  early  part  of  the  morning,  I  had  divided  my  time 
between  the  upper  and  lower  bridges;  but,  after  the  attack  commenced  at  the 
upper  crossing,  I  could  not  leave  it,  and  Captain  McDonald  remained  in  com- 
mand at  the  lower  bridge,  until  he  was  wounded  and  conveyed  to  the  hospital, 
when  Lieutenant  McGrath  assumed  command. 

"  Soon  after  the  enemy  commenced  the  attack  upon  us  at  the  upper  crossing, 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1093 

they  also  opened  fire  upon  our  men  at  the  lower  bridge,  with  results  similar  to 
those  at  the  upper  bridge.     Here  we  also  lost  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded. 

"  After  four  unsuccessful  attempts  to  complete  this  bridge,  a  detachment  of 
the  Fifteenth  New  York  State  Volunteer  Engineers,  and  of  a  regiment  of 
infantry,  as  I  am  informed,  were  sent  across  the  river  in  pontoon  boats,  where 
they  formed,  drove  the  enemy  from  his  position,  and  took  quite  a  number  of 
prisoners.  A  detachment  from  the  Fifteenth  New  York  State  Volunteer  En- 
gineers also  assisted  Lieutenant  McGrath  to  complete  this  bridge." 

In  these  operations  the  Fiftieth  lost  ten  killed  and  forty  wounded.  Captain 
Perkins,  a  brave  and  efficient  officer,  was  among  the  killed.  The  official  reports 
speak  highly  of  the  gallant  services  rendered  by  Captains  Brainerd,  Ford,  and 
McDonald,  and  Lieutenants  Robbins,  McGrath,  Palmer,  Dexter,  and  Van  Rens- 
selaer. That  the  loss  was  not  greater  seemed  miraculous;  but  the  firing  of  the 
enemy  was  too  low,  as  was  shown  by  the  condition  of  the  boats  after  the  bridges 
were  completed.  Most  of  the  pontoons  were  thickly  pierced  with  balls,  and 
before  the  battle  was  over  some  of  the  boats  had  to  be  taken  out  of  the  bridge 
and  replaced  by  others  to  prevent  the  structure  from  sinking. 

In  the  Chancellorsville  campaign  part  of  the  regiment  accompanied  Hooker's 
army,  and  laid  bridges  at  the  United  States  Ford  on  the  Rappahannock  River, 
thirteen  miles  above  Fredericksburg,  while  another  detachment  assisted  in 
laying  two  bridges,  five  miles  below  the  city,  on  which  the  Sixth  Corps  crossed 
preparatory  to  its  assault  on  Marye's  Heights.  Before  laying  the  bridges  at 
the  latter  place  the  engineers  used  their  pontoons  as  boats,  rowing  them  across 
the  river  under  fire,  and  carrying  troops  which  landed  on  the  opposite  shore  and 
drove  away  the  enemy  so  that  the  bridges  could  be  laid.  These  two  bridges 
were  under  charge  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Pettes  and  Maj.  Edmund  O.  Beers. 

A  month  later,  on  June  5,  1863,  the  Fiftieth,  in  company  with  other  troops  of 
the  Engineer  Brigade,  assisted  in  laying  a  pontoon  bridge  across  the  Rappahan- 
nock at  Franklin's  Crossing,  or  Deep  Run,  about  three  miles  below  Fredericks- 
burg. The  Sixth  Corps  crossed  in  order  to  make  a  demonstration  against  Lee's 
right  in  order  to  ascertain  if  possible  the  location  of  the  Confederate  Army,  the 
greater  part  of  which  had  already  left  Fredericksburg  in  its  march  to  Pennsyl- 
vania. This  bridge  was  also  laid  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  in  which 
Captain  Cross,  of  the  U.  S.  Engineers,  was  killed.  The  detachment  of  the 
Fiftieth  lost  eleven  men  killed  and  wounded  in  this  affair,  and  added  to  its 
reputation  for  efficiency  and  gallantry  under  fire,  although  the  men  worked 
unarmed,  their  duties  rendering  them  unable  to  reply  to  the  enemy's  attack. 

Colonel  Stuart  resigned  June  3,  1863.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Pettes  was  pro- 
moted to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  Major  Spaulding  succeeded  Pettes  as  lieutenant 
colonel.  During  the  Gettysburg  campaign  six  companies  under  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Spaulding  were  engaged  in  pontooning  the  Upper  Potomac  and  laying 
the  bridges  over  which  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  marched  as  it  moved  north- 
ward into  Maryland.  The  bridge  at  Berlin,  Md.,  was  over  1,500  feet  long.  The 
four  other  companies  were  stationed  at  Washington,  where  they  were  rejoined, 
July  3d,  by  the  absent  ones,  and  the  regiment  was  again  reunited. 

In  December,  1863,  more  than  three-fourths  of  the  regiment  re-enlisted  for 
the  war,  and  received  the  customary  veteran  furlough  of  thirty  days.     The  two 


1094  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

new  companies,  L  and  M.  joined,  and  the  twelve  companies  were  each  recruited 
up  to  150  men,  the  maximum  strength  of  an  engineer  regiment.  The  Fiftieth 
was  so  favorably  known  that  more  recruits  offered  themselves  than  could  be 
accepted.  Four  full  companies  were  organized  from  the  surplus  and  assigned 
to  the  Fifteenth  New  York  Engineers.  This  increase  in  the  organization  was 
permissible  under  the  Act  of  Congress  passed  July  17,  1862,  by  which  the 
Fiftieth  was  accepted  and  recognized  as  a  regiment  of  volunteer  engineers,  "  on 
the  sam.e  footing  in  all  respects  in  regard  to  its  organization,  pay,  and  emolu- 
ments, as  the  corps  of  engineers  in  the  regular  army."  By  this  enactment  the 
Fiftieth  ceased  to  be  an  infantry  regiment,  and  the  men  became  entitled  to  the 
higher  pay  allowed  to  engineers. 

.  In  the  winter  of  1863-64,  six  companies  —  B,  C,  D,  G,  L,  and  M, —  were 
stationed  at  Washington.  The  other  half  of  the  regiment  served  at  the  front 
under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Spaulding,  whose  headquarters  were  at  Rappahannock 
Station.  The  Fiftieth  entered  tjie  spring  campaign  of  1864  with  about  40 
officers  and  1,500  men,  one  company  having  been  left  in  the  shops  at  Washing- 
ton. 

Just  before  starting  on  the  Wilderness  campaign  the  Engineer  Brigade  was 
discontinued  and  scattered.  The  Fiftieth,  which  had  been  assigned  to  General 
Grant's  Army,  was  divided  into  the  First,  Second,  Third,  and  Reserve  Bat- 
talions, all  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Spaulding.  The  First  Bat- 
talion, composed  of  Companies  B,  F,  and  G,  under  Maj.  Wesley  Brainerd,  had  in 
charge  a  pontoon  train  of  fourteen  boats  and  the  intrenching  tools  of  the  Second 
Corps,  to  which  it  was  assigned  for  duty.  The  Second  Battalion,  Companies  E, 
H,  and  L,  under  Maj.  E.  O.  Beers,  had  a  train  of  thirteen  French  pontoons  and 
the  intrenching  tools  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  to  which  it  was  assigned.  The  Third 
Battalion,  Companies  D,  K,  and  M,  under  Maj.  George  W.  Ford,  had  thirteen 
boats  and  the  tools  of  the  Fifth  Corps.  The  Reserve  Battalion  —  "  Flying  Pon- 
toon Detachment" — under  Colonel  Spaulding's  immediate  command,  con- 
sisted of  Companies  C  and  I,  with  two  trains  of  twelve  canvas  boats  each. 

The  regiment  laid  the  bridges  over  the  Rapidan  River  at  Germanna  Ford  and 
Ely's  Ford,  across  which  the  army  marched  on  its  way  to  the  bloody  battle  of 
the  Wilderness.  In  the  course  of  the  fighting  there  Colonel  Spaulding  was 
ordered  to  concentrate  his  battalions  and  take  position  on  the  line  of  battle.  The 
regiment  accordingly  reported  to  General  Warren,  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  was 
assigned  to  a  place  in  the  front  line.  Ammunition  was  quickly  distributed  and 
the  ten  companies,  numbering  32  officers  and  1,010  men  filed  into  the  rifle  pits. 
No  attack  was  made  on  them,  and,  after  a  slight  loss  in  wounded,  they  returned 
to  their  duties  with  the  pontoon  trains  and  other  work.  But  if  their  services 
had  been  needed  in  the  fighting,  there  is  no  doubt  but  that,  with  its  full  ranks 
and  perfect  discipline,  the  regiment  would  have  rendered  efficient  and  heroic 
service. 

The  active  movements  of  the  army  under  Grant  kept  the  men  of  the  Fiftieth 
busy  night  and  day  in  building  bridges,  constructing  roads,  and  erecting  forts 
or  earthworks.  During  the  first  six  weeks  of  the  campaign,  in  the  marches 
from  the  Rappahannock  to  the  Chickahominy,  the  regiment  built  thirty-eight 
bridges  with  an  aggregate  length  of  6,458  feet.     Some  of  these  bridges  were 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1095 

laid  with  a  marvelous  rapidity,  and,  when  no  longer  needed,  were  taken  up  and 
loaded  on  the  trucks  with  equal  celerity.  ' 

During  the  long  siege  of  Petersburg  the  men  were  constantly  engaged  in 
building  forts  and  magazines,  making  fascines  and  gabions,  erecting  gun- 
platforms,  constructing  roads,  repairing  the  bridges  along  the  line  of  railway 
communications,  and  answering  the  varied  requirements  continually  made  for 
their  services.  Much  of  their  work  was  done  under  fire,  in  which  the  men 
invariably  displayed  coolness  and  courage  as  well  as  skill  and  intelligence. 
They  were  held  in  high  esteem  by  every  commander,  and  when  the  army 
marched  through  Richmond  the  right  of  the  line  was  given  to  the  Fiftieth. 

Returning  to  their  old  quarters  in  Washington,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  the 
regiment  participated  in  the  final  Grand  Review,  and  then,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Spaulding  —  Brevet  Brigadier  General  —  returned  to 
Elmira,  where  it  was  mustered  out  June  13,  1865,  after  four  years  of  meritorous, 
efficient  service. 


Tog6  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

IINSCRIPTIONS.I 


(Front.) 

3nd  N.  Y. 

CAVALRY 

3nd  brig. 

2nd  DIV. 

CAVALRY  CORPS 

(Reverse.) 

■  This  regiment 

was  engaged  in  the  battles  and 

SKIRMISHES  OF  THE  CaVALRY  CoRPS 

until  the  brigade  reached 
Hanover  Junction,  June  30,  1863 

WHEN  IT  WAS  moved  HASTILY  TO 

Manchester  to  guard  trains  against 

rumored  movements  of  the  enemy,  and 

picketed  the  surrounding  country, 

July  4, 

JOINED  3D  Division  in  pursuit 

OF  THE  ENEMY  AND  PARTICIPATED 

IN  THE  Cavalry  engagements 

UNTIL  THE  ENEMY  RETREATED   INTO  VIRGINIA; 


J.  p.  T.VON  PRINT. 


F.  J.   SEVEKENCE,  PHOTO. 


2d    new   YORK    CAVALRY. 
On  Pleasanton  Avenue. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1097 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

SECOND  REGIMENT  CAVALRY —  "  HARRIS  LIGHT." 

September  19,  1892. 

Oration  of  Hon.  Eugene  B.  Travis. 

Mr.  President,  Veterans,  and  Friends: 

Had  I  only  been  invited  to  be  present  here  to-day  I  would  have  thought  it 
honor  enough.  But  to  be  permitted  to  give  a  brief  history  of  that  immortal 
regiment  known  as  the  "  Harris  Light  Cavalry,"  to  be  allowed  to  refer  to  its 
Roll  of  Honor  upon  this  consecrated  spot,  under  circumstances  like  the  present, 
will  always  be  cherished  as  the  greatest  privilege  of  my  life. 

In  April,  1861,  when  the  news  flashed  through  the  country  that  a  body  of 
men,  once  citizens,  were  engaged  in  setting  up  an  independent  government  of 
their  own,  with  its  corner  stone  resting  on  the  slim  foundation  that  the  wishes 
of  a  state  were  paramount  to  the  demands  and  requirements  of  the  general 
government,  and  had  the  further  audacity  to  fire  upon  the  national  colors, 
that  flag  under  whose  fostering  folds  they  had  so  long  lived  in  peace  and 
prosperity, —  silent  indignation  ran  high  in  every  patriotic  bosom. 

The  loyal,  disregarding  party  division,  seemed  to  hold  their  breath  for  a 
moment  in  suspense.  It  was  the  slow  setting  back  of  the  billow  as  it  gathered 
in  force  to  break  on  the  shore.  But  it  was  the  same  determined  spirit  that 
electrified  the  world  eighty-six  years  before. 

A  nation  at  peace  with  all  the  world  was  obliged  to  prepare  for  war  with  a 
part  of  itself,  to  preserve  its  sovereign  authority.  Public  meetings,  the  music 
of  the  fife  and  drum,  with  every  preparation  for  war  were  observable  on  every 
side  throughout  the  country.  Two  vast  armies  were  soon  confronting  each 
other.  There  was  a  clash  of  arms ;  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel  was  fought,  leaving 
killed  and  wounded  on  both  sides. 

Among  the  wounded  upon  the  Union  side  at  that  battle  was  a  young  man, 
rather  below  medium  size,  who  had  exhibited  much  bravery,  and  much  natural 
military  sagacity,  although  holding  rather  a  subordinate  position.  To  him  it 
appeared  that  the  weakness  of  the  service  lay  in  its  lack  of  cavalry.  With 
cavalry  protection,  he  thought  that  this  battle  might  have  been  won  instead 
of  lost. 

The  great  military  leaders  confirmed  this  opinion  later  on.  Convalescent, 
and  having  been  commissioned  by  General  Butler,  accompanied  by  his  two 
friends, —  Martin  F.  Hatch  and  Albert  Seymour, —  he  returned  to  New  York 
and  set  about  enlisting  cavalry.  In  the  meantime,  July  25,  1861,  J.  Mansfield 
Davies  had  been  authorized  to  raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry.  The  "  Harris  Light 
Cavalry,"  thirty-one  years  ago  this  month,  became  at  Scarsdale,  N.  Y.,  an  or- 
ganization to  battle  for  the  Union. 

It  was  a  regiment  peculiarly  constituted,  made  up  mostly  of  young  men  who 
had  been  carefully  reared  and  educated,  leaving  good  homes,  coming  prin- 
cipally from  the  States  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Connecticut,  and  Indiana. 


1098  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

It  seemed  almost,  as  their  services  afterwards  proved,  that  Divine  Providence 
had  thrown  them  together  to  perform  a  kind  of  military  service,  which  is  con- 
sidered of  the  most  difficult  character. 

It  was  your  second  colonel  —  Judson  Kilpatrick  —  with  his  daring,  sustained 
by  the  bravery  of  your  regiment,  that  made  the  Richmond  raids  famous,  that 
put  heart  in  the  Union  cause  when  it  needed  encouragement,  and  perhaps  sug- 
gested the  thought  that  afterwards  matured  in  the  mind  of  a  great  general,  who 
made  the  march  from  Atlanta  to  the  Sea  possible.  For  it  was  this  same 
colonel  who,  as  a  general  in  command  of  the  cavalry,  took  charge  of  the  most 
delicate  part  of  that  great  march. 

Your  regiment,  the  first  cavalry  to  arrive  at  Washington  in  1861,  was  also 
i^he  first  Union  regiment  within  the  suburbs  of  the  Confederate  Capital,  years 
before  Appomattox.  The  record  says  that  this  regiment,  or  detachments  of 
it,  participated  in  177  battles  and  skirmishes  in  its  four  years'  service,  and 
names  them.  When  I  challenge  comparison  in  the  history  of  the  war,  I  do 
not  detract  from  the  thousands  of  brave  men  engaged  in  the  same  deplorable 
conflict. 

It  was  this  same  regiment,  with  others,  and  with  drawn  sabres  under  the  gal- 
lant Custer,  that  stemmed  the  tide  of  a  stampede  at  Cedar  Creek,  and  per- 
mitted the  famous  Sheridan  to  be  still  more  famous,  and  placed  him  in  poetry 
and  song. 

How  could  it  have  been  otherwise,  with  the  rank  and  file  made  up  as  already 
described,  and  officered  by  such  men  as  Kilpatrick,  Davies,  Hull,  Harhaus, 
Randol,  and  Duifie?  Such  gallant  officers  as  Birdseye,  Mitchell,  Grinton,  Cun- 
ningham, and  Northrup,  of  New  York;  Cook,  Gregg,  Raymond,  Mattison,  and 
Shafer,  of  New  Jersey;  Mclrwin,  Naylor,  Hasty  and  Burrows,  of  Indiana;  Whit- 
taker,  Griswold  and  Decker,  of  Connecticut, —  nothing  but  heroic  deeds  and 
glorious  achievements  could  have  been  expected. 

I  now  approach  the  most  touching  part  of  my  task, —  the  honorable  mention 
of  those  who  died  on  the  field  of  battle,  with  their  faces  to  the  enemy.  Why 
not  mention  all  who  died  on  the  field  of  battle?  Length  of  time  only  prevents. 
In  our  admiration  and  veneration  we  shed  a  silent  tear  at  the  mention  of  the 
death  of  brave  Colonel  Hull,  at  Cedar  Creek,  and  the  fall  of  that  gallant  Major 
O'Keefe  at  Five  Forks.  Those  superb  soldiers  Walters,  Gregg,  Decker, 
Compton,  Whittaker,  Cunningham,  Bolster,  and  Watt, —  all  died  on  the  field 
of  battle. 

May  we  not  find  consolation  in  believing  they  died  as  they  suffered  —  in  the 
fight  for  Liberty  and  Union? 

This  regiment,  the  Second  New  York  Cavalry,  called  "  Harris  Light,"  in 
honor  of  Senator  Ira  Harris,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  had  enrolled  altogether  some- 
thing over  2,8co  men. 

During  its  service  the  regiment  was  depleted  in  various  ways,  principally  by 
the  loss  of  II  officers,  and  360  enlisted  men, —  91  of  whom  died  in  Rebel  prisons. 
It  furnished  two  major  generals  and  three  brigadier  generals 

In  August,  1864,  Majors  Grinton  and  Birdseye  were  ordered  on  recruiting 
service  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  returned  later  with  nearly  500  recruits, 
who  served  with  credit  to  themselves  and  the  regiment  through  Sheridan's 
memorable  campaign  in  the  Valley,  and  up  to  Lee's  surrender  at  Appomattox. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  '    1099 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  June  23,  1865.  Returning  to  private  life 
these  soldiers,  with  few  exceptions,  were  successful  business  men,  showing  the 
same  marked  individuality  as  in  the  service. 

Some  skeptic  may  say  that  this  regiment  did  not  participate  in  the  actual 
battle  of  Gettysburg.  The  record  shows  that  this  regiment  was  in  ten  engage- 
ments with  the  Confederate  cavalry  in  June,  1863, —  all  of  which  immediately 
preceded  the  great  battle. 

r  It  was  a  fight  for  position.  It  will  be  remembered  that  this  regiment  with 
others  was  holding  Stuart's  Rebel  cavalry  in  check  on  the  2d  and  3d  of  July. 
Two  days  later  it  took  part  in  capturing  Ewell's  entire  train,  and  after  hard 
fighting  took  2,000  prisoners.  New  York  State  has  said,  with  the  govern- 
ment's approval,  let  the  Harris  Light  Cavalry  have  a  monument  on  this  conse- 
crated battlefield. 

A  quarter  of  a  century  has  passed  away  and  during  that  time  all  the  animosity 
between  the  contending  forces  has  disappeared.  One  flag  floats  over  a  united 
country,  at  peace  with  all  the  world. 

Veterans,  New  York  State  presents  to  you  and  to  the  memory  of  the  fallen, 
thus  recognizing  the  valorous  deeds  performed,  a  monument;  and  the  Nation 
presents  to  you  universal  and  everlasting  gratitude.  We  dedicate  it  for  the 
purpose  intended. 

This  piece  of  granite  may  crumble  into  dust;  this  memorable  battlefield  may 
join  the  sea.  Yet  still  the  valorous  deeds  of  the  Harris  Light  stand  recorded 
in  the  Book  of  Time,  under  the  head  of  Liberty  and  Union,  a  monument  which 
shall  endure  forever. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH, 
By  Lieut.  Col.  Mortimer  B.  Biedseye. 

The  Second  New  York  Cavalry  was  organized  in  July,  1861,  at  Washington, 
D.  C.  Col.  J.  Mansfield  Davies  having  recruited  six  full  companies  in  and 
about  New  York,  was  ordered  with  them  to  Washington,  where  he  was  joined 
by  two  companies  from  each  of  the  following  States:  New  Jersey,  Indiana,  and 
Connecticut. 

It  was  at  first  thought  to  organize  the  twelve  companies  into  a  regiment  foi 
the  regular  army,  but  the  Secretary  of  War  finally  decided  that  this  could 
not  be  done,  and  there  being  the  most  men  from  New  York,  Colonel  Davies 
was  directed  to  report  to  Governor  Morgan  for  an  assignment  of  a  regimental 
number,  and  commissions  for  the  officers.  As  the  First  New  York  Volunteer 
Cavalry  was  then  organized  and  mustered  into  the  service,  Governor  Morgan 
designated  the  regiment  as  the  Second  New  York  Cavalry.  It  was  at  this 
time  decided  to  name  the  organization  the  "  Harris  Light  Cavalry,"  in  honor 
of  United  States  Senator  Ira  Harris,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  who  had  been  of  great 
assistance  to  Colonel  Davies  in  raising  the  six  companies,  and,  later,  through  his 
influence  at  Washington,  in  securing  the  companies  from  New  Jersey,  Indiana 
and  Conne'ticut.  In  token  of  the  name,  Senator  Harris  presented  the  regiment 
with  a  flag,  bearing  his  likeness  and  the  inscription  "  Harris  Light  Cavalry," 


iioo  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

This  flag  the  regiment  proudly  carried  and  gallantly  defended  on  many  a  hotly- 
contested  battlefield  for  four  long  years. 

Governor  Morgan  commissioned  J.  Mansfield  Davies  as  colonel;  Judson  Kil- 
patrick,  of  New  Jersey,  as  lieutenant  colonel ;  Henry  E.  Davies,  Alfred  N.  Duffie 
and  Otto  Harhaus  as  majors;  Julius  Lorell  as  adjutant;  William  H.  Vallance  as 
quartermaster;  and  Charles  E.  Hackley  as  surgeon.  A  full  complement  of  staff 
and  line  officers  were  commissioned  at  this  time,  among  which  was  the  after- 
wards widely  known  novelist,  Edward  P.  Roe,  who  was  commissioned  as 
chaplain. 

Col.  J.  Mansfield  Davies  remained  in  the  service  but  a  short  time,  when 
Kilpatrick  became  colonel,  and  Henry  E.  Davies  lieutenant  colonel.  Subse- 
quently Davies  and  Harhaus  were  promoted  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  regiment. 
Under  these  efficient  officers  the  regiment  rapidly  improved  in  discipline  and 
drill. 

Colonel  Kilpatrick,  having  been  promoted  to  a  brigadier  general  in  June, 
1863,  Colonel  Davies  was  promoted  to  the  same  rank  the  following  fall,  leav- 
ing Colonel  Harhaus  in  command  of  the  regiment.  He  continued  in  command 
until  August  29,  1864,  when  he  was  mustered  out  on  expiration  of  his  three 
years'  term  of  service.  Maj.  Walter  C.  Hull  was  then  promoted  to  colonel,  and 
commanded  until  he  was  killed  in  battle  at  Old  Forge,  Va.,  November  12,  1864. 
Lieut.  Col.  M.  B.  Birdseye  then  commanded  the  regiment  until  Capt.  Alanson 
M.  Randol,  of  the  regular  army,  was  made  colonel  of  the  regiment  in  January, 
1865.  He  commanded  the  regiment  most  of  the  time  until  June  23,  1865,  when 
it  was  mustered  out  of  the  service. 

The  regiment  was  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  during  its  entire  service,  ex- 
cept while  with  General  Sheridan  in  the  "  Valley,"  the  fall  and  winter  of  1864, 
returning  to  Fredericksburg  in  March,  1865,  and  taking  part  in  the  various 
battles  leading  up  to  Appomattox. 

The  "  Harris  Light "  was  twice  recruited  to  nearly  its  full  complement  of 
enlisted  men,  there  being  upwards  of  2,800  names  carried  on  its  rolls  at  various 
times.  Many  of  the  officers  were  promoted  in  the  regiment,  and  some  to  several 
grades.  Notwithstanding  this,  there  were,  at  different  times,  185  different  com- 
missioned officers  in  the  regiment.  Many  of  these  officers  came  from  the  ranks. 
Of  its  original  officers,  Kilpatrick  and  Davies  became  major  generals  of  volun- 
teers, and  Duffie,  Whitaker  and  Randol  became  brigadier  generals.  Some 
43  officers  and  about  400  men  were  carried  on  the  rolls  at  the  time  the  regiment 
was  mustered  out. 

The  regiment  was  depleted  during  service  by  9  officers  and  112  men  killed 
on  various  battlefields;  2  officers  and  234  men  who  died  of  disease  or  other 
causes;  20  officers  and  226  men  wounded;  and  14  officers  and  545  men  cap- 
tured or  missing.  Record  shows  that  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  177  dif- 
ferent battles  and  skirmishes  during  its  service,  and  was  at  different  times 
serving  under  the  following  brigade  and  division  commanders, —  Generals 
Bayard,  Kilpatrick,  Gregg,  Wilson,  Custer,  Davies,  Mcintosh,  and  Penning- 
ton ;  and  that  it  was  under  General  Sheridan  from  the  time  he  came  to  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  until  Lee's  final  surrender.  Its  last  year's  service  was  in 
Custer's  famous  Third  Cavalry  Division. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  iioi 

There  are  many  officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  "  Harris  Light  Cavalry " 
deserving  of  special  mention  for  their  valorous  deeds,  as  well  as  many  exploits 
of  the  entire  command.  But  space  will  only  permit  of  a  brief  sketch.  One  of 
the  sad  events  and  a  great  loss  to  the  regiment,  was  the  death  of  that  gallant 
young  officer,  Col.  Walter  C.  Hull,  who  was  killed  at  the  head  of  his  regiment 
while  leading  a  charge  against  Col.  Tom  Marshall's  Virginia  Cavalry,  at  Old 
Forge,  Va.,  November  12,  1864.  Again,  in  the  loss  of  the  dashing  Irish  officer, 
Maj.  Joseph  O'Keefe,  who  fell  riddled  with  bullets,  in  the  desperate  charge  on 
the  enemy's  breastworks  at  Five  Forks. 

Sad,  indeed,  were  the  trials  of  the  brave  Maj.  Edward  W.  Cook,  who,  taking 
100  picked  men  from  the  regiment,  officered  by  Capt.  Jno.  F.  B.  Mitchell  and 
Lieut.  William  R.  Mattison,  joined  Col.  Ulric  Dahlgren  on  his  famous  raid 
to  Richmond  for  the  liberation  of  the  suffering  Union  prisoners  on  Belle 
Island.  Dahlgren  was  killed  on  this  raid  and  Cook  captured,  Mitchell  and 
Mattison  bringing  back  into  our  lines  about  one-half  of  the  command.  Major 
Cook  was  held  prisoner  nearly  one  year,  and  suffered  all  the  horrors  of  death 
from  the  enemy's  inhuman  treatment,  and,  as  a  result,  died  a  few  years  later. 

It  was  the  gallant  Capt.  E.  W.  Whitaker,  at  the  time  serving  on  General 
Custer's  staff,  who,  with  a  detachment  of  picked  men,  made  a  long  and  forced 
march  in  winter  time  from  Winchester,  Va.,  over  the  mountains  into  the  Moore- 
lield  district,  and  captured  the  famous  Rebel  raider,  Harry  Gilmore.  Again  it 
was  Capt. .  Robert  A.  Landon  who  captured  the  dreaded  guerrilla  chieftain, 
Mosby,  at  Beaver  Dam  Station,  Va.,  in  1863. 

This  regiment  has  the  honor  of  being  the  only  Union  regiment  that  passed 
the  outer  line  of  defences  surrounding  Richmond  during  its  occupation  by 
Confederate  forces.  This  was  on  the  Kilpatrick  raid,  in  the  spring  of  1864, 
when  General  Kilpatrick,  at  the  head  of  his  first  command,  the  old  "  Harris 
Light,"  accompanied  by  a  section  of  Ransom's  Battery,  boldly  pushed  down 
the  Brook  Pike  through  the  outer  line  of  defences  and  threw  forty  odd  shells 
from  his  three-inch  guns  into  the  outskirts  of  the  Confederate  Capital. 

Again,  this  regiment  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  opening  up  the  "  ball "  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Appomattox ;  for  it  was  the  "  Harris  Light,"  led  by 
Lieut.  Col.  M.  B.  Birdseye,  that  charged  into  Appomattox  Station  (three 
miles  from  where  Lee's  main  army  was  camped)  about  sunset,  April  8th,  and 
captured  three  railroad  trains,  loaded  with  supplies  for  Lee's  almost  famished 
army.  The  road  leading  from  the  Station  to  Appomattox  Court  House  was 
at  this  time  filled  with  the  Confederate  wagon  trains,  under  escort,  coming  for 
the  much-needed  supplies.  The  regiment  finally  succeeded  in  driving  the 
enemy  back  along  this  road  and  capturing  about  a  half  mile  of  their  wagon 
train,  when  General  Custer  came  dashing  on  to  the  scene  with  the  balance  of 
the  Third  Cavalry  Division.  By  this  time  General  Lee  had  sent  forward  a  large 
force  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  supported  by  a  couple  of  horse  batteries.  It  was 
now  about  dark,  and  a  struggle  commenced  for  the  possession  of  that  wagon 
train.  Later,  General  Merritt  came  up  with  his  cavalry  division  and  became 
hotly  engaged.  The  enemy  stubbornly  contested  every  rod  of  their  train  until 
2  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  they  retired  to  and  beyond  Appomattox  Court 
House,  leaving  us  in  possession  of  three  miles  of  their  train.    Again,  soon  after 


1 102  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  the  regiment  was  engaged  with  the  enemy, 
and  continued  under  fire  until  Lee's  final  surrender. 

On  April  6,  1865,  at  the  battle  of  Harper's  Farm,  or  Sailor's  Creek,  as  the 
infantry  call  it,  the  "  Harris  Light "  made  an  important  capture  of  prisoners, 
securing  Generals  Ewell,  Custis  Lee,  and  Bushrod  Johnson,  with  4,200  officers 
and  men  of  their  commands. 

Soon  after  tlie. close  of  the  war  the  survivors  of  the  old  regiment  formed 
themselves  into  an  association  known  as  "  The  Harris  Light  Cavalry  Associa- 
tion," and  have  held  their  annual  reunions  since. 


ACCEPTANCE  OF  MONUMENT. 

By  Capt.  Marlin  F.  Hatch. 
Comrades: 

As  president  of  the  Veteran  Association  of  the  Second  New  York  Cavalry, 
known  as  the  "  Harris  Light,"  and  in  the  name  of  the  Association,  I  accept 
this  beautiful  monument.  I  trust  that  the  Association  will  authorize  its  officers 
to  make,  or  have  made,  the  proper  inscriptions  showing  the  principal  battles 
and  engagements  in  which  the  regiment  took  part,  in  order  that  those  who 
visit  this  spot  may  form  a  more  accurate  ojpinion  of  the  character  and  services 
of  the  Second  New  York  Cavalry.  We  are  all  proud  of  its  grand  record.  We 
believe  that  it  was  created  for  a  noble  purpose,  a  purpose  which  has  been 
gloriously  fulfilled. 


THE  "HARRIS  LIGHT." 

Historical  Sketch,  by  Capt.  Willard  Glazier. 

Of  all  the  regiments  of  horse  that  fought  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union 
on  the  battlefields  of  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  perhaps  not  one 
had  a  more  unique  and  brilliant  career  than  the  Second  New  York, —  Harris 
Light  Cavalry.  Officered  chiefly  by  West  Point  graduates  and  others  who  had 
attained  rank  in  our  civil  and  foreign  wars,  it  was  immediately  ordered  to  the 
front,  and  from  the  day  it  crossed  the  Potomac,  until  mustered  out  at  the  close 
of  the  war,  it  was  constantly  in  active  service. 

Bayard,  Stoneman,  Pleasanton,  Gregg,  Custer,  Davies,  Kilpatrick  and 
Sheridan  are  names  that  will  not  soon  fade  from  the  memory  of  soldiers  who 
saw  service  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  if  not  the  greatest,  they  were 
certainly  among  the  great  cavalry  leaders  of  the  Rebellion.  To  say  that  the 
"  Harris  Light "  followed  where  these  cavalrymen  led  and  was  never  found 
wanting  when  their  bugles  sounded  "  To  Horse,''  is  all  that  need  be  said 
to  give  it  its  proper  place  in  the  records  of  our  Civil  War. 

The  story  of  the  marches,  raids,  skirmishes  and  fights  of  this  regiment,  from 
the  Potomac  to  the  Rappahannock,  from  the  Rappahannock  to  the  Rapidan, 
from  the  Rapidan  to  Gettysburg,  and  from  Gettysburg  back  through  the  val- 
leys of  Virginia  to  Appomattox,  is  best  told  by  the  traces  of  bullets  upon  its 
battle  flags. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1103 

The  first  companies  recruited  for  the  regiment  were  mustered  into  service 
at  New  York  City  early  in  the  month  of  August,  1861,  with  J.  Mansfield 
Davies  as  colonel;  the  remaining  companies  were  mustered  in  at  Washington 
the  latter  part  of  the  same  month.  A  few  days  later,  Judson  Kilpatrick,  of 
New  Jersey,  was  commissioned  lieutenant  colonel.  Both  Davies  and  Kilpat- 
rick were  graduates  from  West  Point;  the  former  a  son  of  Charles  Davies,  the 
distinguished  mathematician  and  for  several  years  professor  of  mathematics  at 
West  Point;  the  latter,  who  soon  became  the  idol,  not  only  of  his  own  regi- 
ment, but  the  entire  cavalry  corps,  was  the  son  of  a  New  Jersey  farmer,  and 
was  born  near  the  village  of  Deckertown,  in  1838. 

It  was  quite  in  keeping  with  everything  about  Kilpatrick  that  he  should 
choose  the  cavalry  as  a  vehicle  for  his  high  ambition  and  noble  patriotism. 
Such  energies  as  his  could  scarcely  be  content  with  less  dash  or  brilliancy  of 
action.  The  beginning  of  his  war  career  was  one  of  romance,  and  his  previous 
life  indicated  an  unusual  range  of  abilities.  He  first  figures  as  a  youthful  orator 
speaking  in  favor  of  a  Congressional  candidate  with  all  the  warmth  and  en- 
thusiasm of  his  ardent  nature.  Then  we  see  him  at  West  Point,  from  which  he 
graduates  fifteenth  in  his  class,  and  is  given  the  honor  of  valedictorian.  The 
day  of  graduation  is  hastened  a  few  months  by  the  startling  guns  of  Sumter, 
which  proclaim  treason  rampant  and  fire  all  loyal  breasts  with  a  desire  to  rush 
to  the  rescue  of  their  country's  beloved  flag. 

The  impatience  and  enthusiasm  of  Kilpatrick  could  not  be  restrained,  and 
through  his  influence  a  petition  was  .signed  by  thirty-seven  of  his  class  to  be 
allowed  to  graduate  at  once  and  go  to  the  front.  The  request  was  granted,  and 
that  day  was  one  of  especial  significance  at  West  Point;  for  the  little  chapel 
where  had  rung  out  the  words  of  his  farewell  address,  also  witnessed  the  sacred 
ceremony  of  his  marriage  with  the  lady  of  his  love,  and  on  that  evening  the 
young  soldier  and  his  bride  started  for  Washington  and  the  front.  Soon  after, 
Kilpatrick  was  given  a  captaincy  in  Duryea's  Zouaves  and  fought  his  first 
battle  at  Big  Bethel,  June  11,  1861.  He  led  the  advance,  and  in  the  first 
charge  received  a  grape-shot  wound  in  his  thigh;  but,  though  covered  with 
blood,  he  led  his  men  in  several  subsequent  charges,  and  was  finally  borne 
from  the  field  fainting  with  exhaustion.  After  this  engagement  he  returned 
to  New  York,  and  a  little  later  was  commissioned  lieutenant  colonel  of  the 
Second  New  York  Cavalry,  with  which  he  was  closely  identified  until  his 
transfer  to  the  command  of  the  cavalry  under  Sherman,  in  the  spring  of  1864. 

The  various  companies  of  the  regiment  were  drawn  together  about  a  mile  east 
of  the  Old  Capitol  at  Washington,  August  22,  1861,  and  the  appearance  of 
Kilpatrick  a  few  days  later  was  the  signal  for  a  series  of  mounted  and  dis- 
mounted drills,  which  soon  put  us  in  condition  to  take  the  field.  At  8  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  October  isth  the  "  Harris  Light "  broke  camp,  and,  march- 
ing through  Washington,  crossed  the  famous  Long  Bridge  over  the  Potomac 
and  moved  forward  to  Munson's  Hill,  in  full  view  of  the  enemy's  outposts. 
Here  a  new  camp  was  established,  which  was  called  "  Camp  Advance."  For 
the  first  time  our  horses  remained  saddled  through  the  night,  and  the  men 
slept  under  arms. 

During  the  winter  of  1861  the  Second  New  York,  with  other  cavalry  regi- 
ments, was  encamped  at  Arlington,  opposite  Washington.    The  winter  was  one 


II04  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

of  preparation,  not  operation,  and  the  large  plain  between  the  Arlington  House 
and  the  Potomac  was  well  trodden  by  loyal  feet.  On  this  plain  Davies,  Kil- 
patrick  and  Dufifie  began  to  develop  their  soldierly  qualities,  infusing  them 
into  their  commands,  and  imparting  that  knowledge  of  cavalry  tactics  which 
was  destined  to  prepare  us  for  the  duties  of  the  field. 

In  the  movement  on  Manassas,,  March  8,  1862,  a  squadron  of  the  "  Harris 
IJght "  acted  as  escort  to  General  McClellan,  while  the  remainder  of  the  regi- 
ment, acting  as  advance  guard  of  the  Union  column,  drove  in  the  Rebel  pickets 
and  was  first  to  enter  their  camps  at  Centreville.  On  the  following  day  we 
moved  to  Catlett's  Station  where  we  were  encamped  until  April  17th. 

When  McDowell  advanced  to  Falmouth  on  the  Rappahannock  the  "  Harris 
Light "  was  again  at  the  front,  and  in  conjunction  with  the  First  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Bayard,  made  a  brilliant  night  attack  on  Falmouth 
Heights,  defeating  the  Confederate  force  at  that  point,  and  capturing  the  place. 
For  this  dashing  achievement  Kilpatrick  and  his  regiment  received  the  thanks 
of  the  commanding  general.  This  was  really  our  first  hand-to-hand  encounter 
with  the  enemy,  and  Falmouth  was  the  first  name  inscribed  on  our  battle  flag. 
In  the  action  at  Falmouth  Heights  it  was  the  misfortune  of  the  regiment  to  lose 
Lieut.  Nelson  J.  Decker  and  several  of  its  bravest  men. 

In  the  summer  of  1862  Colonel  Kilpatrick  led  his  regiment  in  a  series  of 
raids  to  the  Virginia  Central  Railway  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  up  the  line 
of  communication  between  Lee  and  Stonewall  Jackson.  At  Beaver  Dam, 
Frederick's  Hall,  Anderson  Turnout  and  Hanover  Junction,  we  burned  the 
stations,  destroyed  the  tracks  and  attacked  the  enemy  wherever  we  could  find 
him. 

During  Pope's  disastrous  campaign  in  Northern  Virginia,  the  "  Harris 
Light,"  with  Kilpatrick  still  at  its  head,  co-operated  with  the  cavalry  under 
Bayard,  protecting  the  rear  and  flanks  of  the  army  on  its  retreat  from  the 
Rapidan  and  Rappahannock.  In  this  campaign  was  fought,  on  the  20th  of 
August,  the  first  battle  of  Brandy  Station,  between  our  regiment  and  a  brigade 
of  Confederate  cavalry  led  by  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart  in  person. 

Covering  the  retreat  of  the  Union  army  to  the  plains  of  Manassas,  the 
cavalry  was  almost  daily  in  conflict  with  the  enemy.  In  short,  hardly  an  hour 
passed  that  our  command  did  not  cross  sabres  with  the  well-trained  squadrons 
under  Stuart.  The  rapidity  of  our  movements  may  be  best  illustrated  by  the 
fact  that  between  August  20th  and  September  ist  were  fought  the  battles  of 
Waterloo  Bridge,  Sulphur  Springs,  Bristoe  Station,  Manassas,  Thoroughfare 
Gap,  Groveton,  Second  Bull  Run  and  Chantilly,  in  all  of  which  the  "  Harris 
Light  "  bore  a  conspicuous  part. 

The  foregoing  were  followed  by  the  engagements  at  Sudley  Church,  White 
Plains,  and  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg;  the  latter  of  which  closed  the  cam- 
paign of  1862.  In  this  battle  our  regiment  was  in  General  Bayard's  Brigade 
and  supporting  artillery  on  the  right  of  the  line,  when  Bayard  fell  mortally 
wounded  in  front  of  his  command. 

When  Hooker  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  the 
cavalry  was  reorganized  under  Stoneman  as  chief,  and  that  general  in  the 
following  campaign  assigned  to  Kilpatrick  and  his  regiment  the  work  of  de- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


1 105 


stroying  the  railroad  and  bridges  over  the  Chickahominy.  Four  hundred  and 
fifty  men  were  detailed  from  the  "Harris  Light"  for  this  purpose;  with  this 
small  force  Kilpatrick  brought  to  the  difficult  mission  his  usual  skill,  and  avoid- 
ing large  bodies  of  the  enemy,  raided  to  within  two  miles  of  Richmond,  where 
we  captured  Lieutenant  Brown,  aide-de-camp  to  General  Winder,  and  eleven 
men  within  the  fortifications  of  the  city. 

In  his  report  Kilpatrick  says :  "  I  then  passed  down  to  the  left  to  Meadow 
Bridge  over  the  Chickahominy,  which  I  burned,  ran  a  train  of  cars  into  the  river, 
retired  to  Hanovertown  on  the  Peninsula,  crossing  the  river  just  in  time  to  check 
the  advance  of  a  pursuing  cavalry  force,  burned  a  train  of  thirty  wagons  loaded 
with  bacon,  captured  thirteen  prisoners,  and  encamped  for  the  night  five  miles 
from  the  river."  This  was  the  manner  of  our  movements  until  the  7th  of  May, 
when  we  again  struck  the  Union  lines  at  Gloucester  Point,  having  made  a 
forced  march  of  about  200  miles  in  less  than  five  days,  and  captured  and  paroled 
over  800  prisoners.  In  the  accomplishment  of  this  splendid  feat  we  lost  only 
I  officer  and  37  men. 

After  Chancellorsville,  when  Lee  massed  his  forces  at  Beverly  Ford  before 
leading  his  army  northward.  General  Pleasanton  was  sent  forward  on  a  recon- 
noissance  and  again  met  the  Confederate  cavalry  on  the  renowned  field  of 
Brandy  Station.  General  Gregg  opened  the  battle  at  half-past  10  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  and  though  his  noble  squadrons  fought  well  and  bravely,  their 
columns  were  rolled  back  and  for  a  moment  all  seemed  lost  and  overwhelmed 
by  the  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy.  But  at  this  crisis  Kilpatrick,  posted  on 
a  slight  rise  of  ground,  unfurled  his  battle  flag  to  the  breeze  and  his  bugles 
sounded  the  charge.  He  had  under  his  command  the  "  Harris  Light,"  Tenth 
New  York,  and  First  Maine.  One  after  another  these  regiments  were  hurled 
upon  the  Confederates  until  victory  was  again  the  prize  of  the  Union  squadrons. 
On  the  following  day  Kilpatrick  was  made  a  brigadier  general,  and  his  brigade 
received  special  notice  in  the  orders  of  the  commanding  general. 

Several  engagements  of  minor  importance  succeeded  Brandy  Station,  all 
leading  up  to  the  battle  of  Aldie,  which  was  fought  on  the  17th  of  June.  The 
village  of  Aldie  is  situated  in  a  gap  of  the  Bull  Run  Mountains,  and  lay  in  the 
direct  line  of  our  reconnoissance  southward.  Here  we  came  upon  the  advance 
guard  of  the  Confederate  cavalry  under  Fitzhugh  Lee.  The  encounter  at  this 
point  was  unexpected  by  Kilpatrick;  still  he  was  equal  to  the  moment.  Dash- 
ing to  the  front  he  made  a  rapid  survey  of  the  situation  and  then  sounded  the 
"  charge."  The  Rebels  were  at  first  taken  by  surprise,  and  did  not  oppose 
his  headlong  advance,  but  afterwards  rallied  and  fought  desperately  for  two 
hours.  During  this  cavalry  battle  the  enemy  occupied  a  strong  position  on 
the  crest  of  a  hill  behind  a  barricade  of  rails  and  haystacks,  and  made  a  most 
determined  stand.  Kilpatrick  ordered  forward  a  battalion  of  the  "  Harris 
Light,"  pointed  to  the  field  of  haystacks,  and  said  to  Major  Mclrvin  com- 
manding: "  Major,  there  is  the  opportunity  you  have  asked  for;  go  take  that 
position  1 "  OS  galloped  Mclrvin  at  the  head  of  his  battalion,  and  a  moment 
later  charged  and  drove  the  Confederates  from  the  haystacks  and  on  down 
the  hill.  But  Lee  rallied  again  for  a  last  desperate  attempt,  and  success  for 
the  Union  arms  now  seemed  doubtful.    At  this  crisis  Kilpatrick  rushed  to  the 

70 


iio6  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

rescue,  and  at  the  head  of  the  First  Maine  swept  down  upon  the  advancing 
columns  of  the  foe  with  such  fury  that  they  reeled  and  broke  in  confusion. 
Lee  was  driven  as  far  as  Middleburg,  and  night  alone  saved  the  remnant  of 
his  command. 

On  the  day  following  the  battle  of  Aldie  General  Pleasanton  was  anxious  to 
push  the  Rebel  cavalry  back  through  the  Bull  Run  Mountains,  and  to  occupy 
the  village  of  Middleburg.  To  Kilpatrick  and  his  division  was  assigned  this 
task,  and  jaded  as  we  were,  as  well  as  our  horses,  by  the  arduous,  yet  glorious 
labors  of  the  "  Seventeenth,"  with  mercury  up  to  98  Fahrenheit  in  the  shade 
and  122  in  the  sun,  and  through  dust  which  many  tramping  hoofs  made  almost 
intolerable,  we  marched  into  Pleasant  Valley.  The  Confederates  were  en- 
countered near  the  town,  and  after  an  engagement  lasting  between  two  and 
three  hours,  were  repulsed  and  driven  beyond  Middleburg.  In  this  action  the 
"  Harris  Light "  had  the  advance. 

Aldie  and  Middleburg  were  succeeded  by  Upperville,  on  the  21st  of  June, 
when  the  Cavalry  Corps  moved  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  in  the  direction 
of  Ashby's  Gap  in  the  Blue  Ridge.  Three  divisions,  commanded  respectively 
by  Buford,  Gregg  and  Kilpajtrick,  now  composed  the  force  under  Pleasanton. 
As  we  moved  towards  Upperville,  Kilpatrick  again  had  the  advance  with  the 
"  Harris  Light "  at  the  head  of  the  column.  We  had  not  proceeded  far  before 
we  encountered  the  Rebel  pickets  which  we  drove  steadily  before  us.  Their 
strength,  however,  greatly  increased  as  we  moved  forward,  and  quite  a  large 
force  contested  our  advance  when  we  entered  Carrtown.  From  this  place  to 
Upperville  the  engagement  became  general.  Although  vigorously  opposed,  we 
pushed  ahead  without  being  seriously  retarded  until  we  reached  Upperville. 
Here  we  were  met  with  great  desperation,  the  Rebels  charging  us  handsomely, 
but  with  no  great  damage.  When  our  forces  had  been  placed  to  advantage 
and  the  right  time  had  come,  Kilpatrick  was  ordered  to  charge  the  town.  With 
drawn  sabres,  weapons  in  which  the  general  always  had  confidence  and  gen- 
erally won  success,  and  with  yells  that  made  the  hills  and  plains  resound,  we 
rushed  upon  the  enemy.  Several  times  tlie  Confederates  broke,  but  being  rein- 
forced or  falling  back  upon  some  better  position,  again  endeavored  to  bafHe 
our  efforts.  They  were  not  equal  to  the  task,  however,  and  we  drove  them 
through  the  village  of  Paris,  and,  finally,  through  Ashby's  Gap,  back  upon 
their  infantry  columns  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  In  this  action  we  captured 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  four  caissons,  several  stand  of  small  arms  and  a  large 
number  of  prisoners. 

Soon  after  the  fight  at  Upperville,  General  Meade  relieved  Hooker  as  com- 
mander of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which  led  to  many  changes  and  a  thorough 
reorganization  of  the  cavalry.  The  "  Harris  Light,"  now  under  Col.  Otto 
Harhaus,  was  transferred  to  the  Second  Cavalry  Division,  commanded  by  Gen- 
eral Gregg.  From  the  25th  of  June  to  the  1st  of  July,  this  regiment  played  an 
important  part  in  the  skirmishes  and  minor  engagements  which  preceded  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg.  We  were  almost  hourly  engaged  with  the  Confederates 
under  Stuart,  Fitzhugh  Lee,  Imboden  and  John  Jenkins.  The  actions  at  Han- 
over, Hanover  Junction,  the  first  day  at  Gettysburg,  the  fights  at  Abbottstown 
and  Hunterstown  on  the  second  day,  the  splendid   work   of   the   cavalry   at 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1107 

Round  Top  on  the  third,  our  pursuit  of  the  enemy  in  his  retreat  from  Gettys- 
burg, our  capture  of  between  two  and  three  thousand  prisoners,  and  Ewell's 
entire  wagon  train  on  the  night  of  July  4th,  are  a  part  of  the  history  of  that 
glorious  campaign  and  estabHsh  the  fact  that  the  cavalry  played  no  mean  part 
at  this  crisis  in  the  war  for  the  Union. 

In  his  dispatch  to  Washington  General  Meade  says:  "The  New  York 
cavalry  has  been  engaged  all  day  on  both  flanks  of  the  enemy,  harassing  and 
vigorously  attacking  him  with  great  success,  notwithstanding  they  encountered 
superior  numbers,  both  of  cavalry  and  artillery." 

Gettysburg  was  followed  in  quick  succession  by  Smithsburg,  Boonsborough, 
Hagerstown,  Williamsport  and  Falling  Waters,  as  the  Union  cavalry  pursued 
the  retreating  columns  of  the  enemy  to  the  south  bank  of  the  Potomac.  These 
engagements  were  succeeded  by  the  Third  Brandy  Station,  Culpeper,  Raccoon 
Ford,  Robertson  River,  Liberty  Mills,  James  City,  Fourth  Brandy  Station,, 
New  Baltimore,  Stevensburg  and  Mine  Run, —  in  all  of  which  the  "  Harris 
Light "  proved  itself  worthy  of  laurels  won  during  the  first  years  of  the  war. 

The  I2th  of  January,  1864,  found  the  Second  New  York  at  Kelly's  Ford 
on  the  Rappahannock,  acting  as  advance  guard  to  the  Cavalry  Corps,  which 
was  then  leading  the  Union  columns  against  the  Confederates.  During  this 
campaign  the  regiment  participated  in  the  actions  at  Ellis  Ford,  Stevensburg, 
Beaver  Dam,  South  Anna  Bridge,  Defences  of  Richmond,  Old  Church,  New 
Kent  Court  House,  Wilderness,  Spotsylvania  Court  House,  Yellow  Tavern, 
Fortifications  of  Richmond,  Polecat  Station,  Cold  Harbor,  Malvern  Hifl,  Notto- 
way Court  House,  Charlestown,  Shepherdstown,  Waynesboro,  Berryville,  Win- 
chester, Opequon,  Front  Royal,  Milford,  Mt.  Carmel,  Woodstock,  Bridge- 
water,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek.  In  the  last  named  the  "  Harris  Light " 
was  in  Custer's  Division,  and  was  making  a  herculean  efifort  to  check  the 
pursuing  enemy  when  Sheridan  arrived  from  Winchester,  reassured  his  retreat- 
ing columns  and  turned  defeat  into  \-ictory.  In  a  subsequent  action  near  Cedar 
Creek,  November  12,  1864,  the  regiment  lost  thirty-nine  in  killed,  wounded 
and  captured,  including  Walter  C.  Hull,  its  gallant  colonel,  who  was  killed. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  closed  its  campaign  of  1864  with  the  engagements 
at  Nineveh,  Mt.  Jackson,  Harrisonburg  and  Lacy  Springs.  Then  followed  in 
the  spring  of  1865  Charlottesville,  White  House  Landing,  Dinwiddle  Court 
House,  Five  Forks,  Fall  of  Petersburg,  Deep  Creek,  Amelia  Springs,  and, 
finally,  Appomattox,  where  the  "  Harris  Light,"  at  that  time  under  Colonel 
Birdseye,  in  Custer's  Division  of  Sheridan's  Corps,  played  an  important  part  in 
the  closing  scenes  of  the  war. 

Official  records  show  that  the  Second  New  York  Cavalry  participated  in 
nearly  200  raids,  battles  and  skirmishes,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  its  list  of  casualties 
was  exceeded  by  any  cavalry  regiment  in  the  service.  Frederic  Phisterer,  late 
captain,  U.  S.  A.,  and  now  assistant  adjutant  general.  State  of  New  York,  as- 
sisted by  Capt.  Marlin  F.  Hatch,  of  the  "  Harris  Light,"  gives  the  following 
figures,  compiled  from  "  New  York  in  the  Rebellion :  "  Killed,  wounded  and 
missing,  928  officers  and  men,  from  its  muster-in,  during  the  month  of  August, 
1861,  to  its  muster-out,  June  23,  1865.  When  we  consider  that  the  total  enlist- 
ment of  the  regiment  was  130  ofi(icers  and  2,837  men,  it  will  be  readily  seen  that 


iio8  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

nearly  one-third  of  the  entire  organization  perished  in  battle,  died  in  camp  and 
on  the  march,  or  languished  in  Southern  prisons. 

The  mere  presentation  of  names  in  the  death  and  prison-roll  of  the  Second 
New  York  Cavalry  would  occupy  more  space  than  is  allowed  this  article,  and 
for  this  reason  I  can  do  no  more  than  mention  those  officers  who  fell  in  battle 
or  who  died  from  wounds  and  other  causes. 

The  first  officer  of  the  regiment  to  fall  in  action  was  Lieut.  Nelson  J.  Decker, 
who  was  killed  near  Falmouth,  Va.,  April  17,  1862,  during  the  first  advance 
of  Union  troopy  to  the  Rappahannock ;  Capt.  Samuel  -G.  Milligan  died  from 
disease  contracted  in  service  May  22d  of  the  same  year;  Capt.  Charles  C.  Wal- 
ters was  killed  August  i8th  during  McDowell's  retreat  from  the  Rapidan; 
Lieut.  Frederick  Compton  was  killed  at  Groveton  August  29,  1862;  First  Lieut. 
Daniel  Whittaker  and  Second  Lieut.  August  F.  Martenson  were  killed  at  Aldie 
June  17,  1863;  Second  Lieut.  Robert  Stewart  was  drowned  near  Warrenton, 
Va.,  July  31st  following;  Second  Lieut.  Murt.  Cunningham  died  July  12,  1864, 
from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Stony  Creek ;  Col.  Walter  C.  Hull,  killed 
near  Cedar  Creek,  November  12,  1864;  Maj.  James  O'Keefe  died  April  6,  1865, 
from  wounds  received  at  Five  Forks. 

The  losses  of  the  "  Harris  Light "  by  capture  in  battle,  on  the  skirmish  line, 
and  during  its  various  raids  were  nearly,  if  not  quite,  equal  to  its  roll  of  killed 
and  wounded;  and  the  graves  of  our  martyrs  at  Richmond,  Danville,  Macon, 
Savannah,  Charleston,  Columbia  Millen,  Salisbury  and  Andersonville  will  fully 
corroborate  the  statement  made  in  my  "  Capture,  Prison  Pen  and  Escape,"  that 
the  carnage  of  the  battlefield  was  not  exceeded  by  the  mortality  of  the  prison 
pen.  Being  unable  to  obtain  a  record  of  captures  after  my  escape  from  Colum- 
l)ia,  the  following  list  includes  only  those  officers  who  were  confined  in  Libby 
and  other  Confederate  prisons  during  my  own  incarceration,  extending  from 
October,  1863,  to  November,  1864.  These  were:  Col.  E.  F.  Cooke,  Maj. 
Samuel  Mclrvin,  Capts.  Charles  Hasty,  H.  H.  Mason,  and  O.  J.  Downing,  Adj. 
P.  Owen  Jones  and  Lieuts.  William  Nyce,  Butler  Coles,  Henry  Temple,  George 
C.  Houston,  J.  A.  Richardson  and  Willard  Glazier. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  in  the  preparation  of  this  sketch  the  author  has 
been  limited  to  the  merest  outline  of  the  service  rendered  by  the  "  Harris 
Light,"  for  I  feel  that  many  of  its  officers  and  men  are  worthy  of  more  extended 
mention  than  could  possibly  be  given  them  within  the  prescribed  limits  of  the 
chapter  called  for.  Five  generals,  ten  colonels,  and  a  score  of  field  officers,  who 
were  accounted  among  the  best  and  bravest  soldiers  of  the  Union  cavalry 
corps,  began  their  career  in  this  well-known  regiment.  Kilpatrick,  who  rose 
from  the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel  to  that  of  major  general,  and  the  command 
of  the  cavalry  under  Sherman;  Duffie,  a  graduate  of  the  mihtary  school  at 
St.  Cyr,  France, —  who  was  promoted  from  the  captaincy  of  a  company  to 
brigadier  general;  Henry  E.  Davies,  Jr.,  who  rose  from  the  rank  of  major  to 
that  of  major  general,  and  the  command  of  the  cavalry  under  S-heridan; 
Clarence  Buel,  who  advanced  from  the  command  of  the  Troy  Company  to  the 
colonelcy  of  the  One  hundred  and  sixty-ninth  New  York  Infantry;  Capt. 
Robert  Loudon,  the  oldest  survivor  of  the  regiment, —  who  served  eight  years 
in  the  English  cavalry,  distinguished  himself  in  a  hundred  actions,  and  who. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1109 

with  a  battalion,  cut  his  way  through  the  columns  of  Stuart,  Lee  and  Hampton 
on  the  Plains  of  Brandy  Station;  Colonel  Hull,  who  fell  while  leading  the  regi- 
ment in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah;  Randol,  who  won  his  star  in  front  of 
Richmond;  E.  W.  Whitaker,  who  entered  the  service  an  enlisted  man  and 
left  it  a  brigadier  general;  and  Colonel  Birdseye,  who  rode  with  Custer  at 
Cedar  Creek  and  fought  with  Sheridan  at  Five  Forks  and  Appomattox,  estab- 
lish clearly  that  men  of  true  metal  led  and  were  moving  spirits  in  the  Harris 
Light  Cavalry. 


1 1 10  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

^INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

4th  new  YORK 

CAVALRY 

Snd  brig.  Snd  DIV.  cavalry  CORPS. 

(Reverse.) 

This  Regiment  participated  in 

the  Gettysburg  Campaign  until 

REACHING  Hanover  Junction 

June  30,  when  with  the  brigade 

it  was  detached  and  moved  to 

Manchester,  where  it  picketed 

the  surrounding  country  until 

July  3,  when  it  proceeded  to 

Westminister.    On  the  4th,  it 

joined  Kilpatrick's  Division 

IN  pursuit  of  the  enemy  and  with 

IT  participated  at  Monterey 

Pass  that  night  and  in  the  many 

other  Cavalry  engagements 

UNTIL   THE   enemy   RECROSSED 

THE  Potomac. 


J.  B.  LYON  FEINT. 


4th    new   YORK    CAVALRY. 

On  Pleasanton  Avenue 


V.  J.  SEVEEENCE,  PHOTO. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  iiii 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

4th  regiment  cavalry. 
September  2,  1889. 

Address  by  Sergt.  Benjamin  L.  Turner. 
Comrades: 

The  nucleus  of  the  Fourth  New  York  Cavalry  was  formed  some  time  in 
May,  1861.  The  men  occupied  a  vacant  warehouse  in  Williamsburg,  L.  I., 
with  headquarters  at  No.  37  Bowery. 

It  was  first  known  as  the  Lincoln  Greens;  then  as  Dickel's  Mounted  Rifles; 
and  later  as  the  Fourth  New  York  Volunteer  Cavalry.  The  organization  was 
started  by  a  Major  Byron,  but  he  gave  it  up  to  go  on  General  Sigel's  staff 
in  the  West;  then  Christian  F.  Dickel,  who  had  at  that  time  a  riding  academy; 
on  Forty-third  Street  in  New  York  City,  succeeded  him,  and  was  subsequently 
mustered  as  the  colonel  of  the  regiment. 

At  this  time  there  were  about  thirty  or  forty  recruits  who  had  spasmodic 
drills  as  they  were  inclined,  with  Comrade  Parnell  as  drill  instructor.  Early 
in  June  these  recruits  were  moved  to  Elm  Park,  where  Companies  A  and  B 
were  partially  organized,  but  not  mustered  in.  About  July  loth  these  were 
moved  to  Yonkers  in  Westchester  County,  taking  up  quarters  in  an  empty 
warehouse. 

Recruiting  was  not  brisk.  Although  the  regiment  to6"k  its  numerical  order 
in  the  State  volunteer  cavalry,  according  to  date  of  muster,  it  was  probably 
started  before  even  the  First,  Second  or  Third  Regiments. 

After  the  nucleus  of  the  regiment  was  moved  to  Yonkers,  headquarters  were 
established  at  726  Broadway.  Mr.  Louis  Lafarge  and  other  gentlemen  became 
interested  in  it,  and  a  company  known  as  the  "  Lafarge  Rangers  "  was  formed, 
chiefly  from  members  of  the  Twelfth  New  York  State  Militia,  which  had  just 
returned  from  the  three  months'  service.  It  subsequently  became  Company 
C,  with  Ralph  H.  Olmstead  as  captain. 

Companies  A  and  B,  and  part  of  Company  C  were  mustered  into  service  by 
Captain  Larned  on  August  10,  1861.  On  August  29th  the  remainder  of  Com- 
pany C  and  Companies  D  and  E  were  mustered  into  service.  On  September 
15th  the  companies  mustered  left  for  Washington,  and  went  into  quarters  at 
Camp  Lafarge,  Meridian  Hill.  They  were  joined  there  by  Companies  F,  G, 
and  H.  They  remained  there  a  short  time  and  then  went  into  camp  at  Roach's 
Mill.  In  October  camp  was  changed  to  Hunter's  Chapel,  Va.,  not  far  from 
Arlington  Heights,  and  in  sight  of  that  place,  famous  in  the  annals  of  the  war 
as  the  residence  of  the  Coiifederate  chief.  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee.  After  leaving 
Hunter's  Chapel  they  were  joined  by  Companies  I,  K,  L  and  M,  and  recruits 
for  the  companies  already  there,  so  that  the  organization  was  not  practically 
completed  until  in  October,  1862. 

The  total  strength  of  the  regiment  was  then  about  900  to  1,000  men,  and 
while  in  the  winter  of  1862-63,  it  was  joined  by  about  120  recruits,  yet  sickness 


1 1 12  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

and  losses  in  action  had  thinned  out  more  than  that  number,  so  that  the  regi- 
ment at  no  time  numbered  probably  more  than  i,ooo  men. 

A  list  of  the  regimental  and  staff  officers  should  follow  here,  but  our  informa- 
tion is  so  imperfect  and  so  disconnected,  that  it  is  not  attempted,  except  to  say 
that  the  present  honored  president  of  your  Association,  Alex.  Newburger, 
who  was  afterwards  promoted,  served  at  the  outset  on  the  staff  in  the  quarter- 
master department  with  much  credit. 

Soon  after  moving  to  Hunter's  Chapel  the  regiment  was  attached  to  Blenker's 
Division.  During  the  winter  of  1861-62  it  was  being  drilled  and  perfected  in 
tactics,  and  did  some  vidette  and  outpost  duty  near  Annandale  Church  and 
Fairfax  Toll  Gate.  It  was  while  doing  this  duty  that  the  regiment  received 
its  baptism  of  fire,  a  detachment  from  Companies  B,  C  and  D,  under  the 
command  of  W.  R.  Parnell,  repelling  an  attack  of  the  Sixth  Virginia  Cavalry, 
killing  and  wounding  a  number  and  capturing  several  prisoners.  Early  in 
March,  1862,  the  Fourth  Cavalry,  then  attached  to  the  corps  of  General  Sumner, 
moved  to  Manassas,  thence  to  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock,  when  exchang- 
ing a  few  shots  with  the  Rebels,  it  returned  to  Gainesville;  thence,  in  April,  it 
moved  via  Paris,  Upperville,  and  Snicker's  Ferry  to  Woodsville,  near  Win 
Chester. 

After  remaining  here  three  weeks  in  camp,  during  which  time  they  were 
imder  the  command  of,  and  were  inspected  by  General  Rosecrans,  shortly  after 
superseded  by  General  Fremont,  they  moved  by  a  forced  march  to  the  relief 
of  General  Milroy,  who  was  hemmed  in  by  Gen.  Stonewall  Jackson's  force  at 
the  little  town  of  Franklin,  far  up  in  the  mountains  of  West  Virginia.  This 
move  of  eighty  miles  was  made  in  an  all-night  ride,  in  a  little  more  than  twenty- 
four  hours,  and  just  in  time  to  hear  the  parting  shots  of  General  Jackson's 
command.  While  here  the  whole  division,  under  command  of  General  Fremont, 
suffered  severe  privations  by  reason  of  want  of  supplies.  The  base  was  at  New 
Creek,  W.  Va.,  over  seventy-five  miles  distant  from  Franklin,  and  all  supplies 
had  to  be  hauled  by  wagons.  A  freshet  in  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac 
swept  away  the  pontoon  bridge  at  Little  Petersburg,  and  for  one  or  two  days 
no  provisions  or  forage  reached  the  command.  Hard  tack  sold  readily  at  25 
cents  each,  and  Commissary  Frank  White  here  issued  four  to  each  man,  which 
had  to  suffice  for  three  days.  Some  of  the  men  pounded  the  corn  issued  for  their 
horses  into  a  coarse  meal  and  made  a  fair  substitute  for  bread.  Others  caught 
fish  and  foraged;  but  as  the  valley  here  is  very  narrow  and  the  surrounding 
country  poor  it  yielded  but  little. 

The  regiment  was  constantly,  however,  on  vidette  and  patrol  duty,  and  con- 
tinued scouting  until  the  28th  of  May,  when  the  division  retraced  its  steps 
to  Little  Petersburg;  thence  to  Moorefield,  across  the  mountains  to  Strasburg, 
where  it  struck  the  rear  guard  of  Stonewall  Jackson,  then  retreating  up  the 
valley  after  his  defeat  of  General  Banks.  Here  on  the  night  of  June  1st,  the 
regiment  in  a  torrent  of  rain  and  in  the  darkness  charged  Ashby's  Cavalry, 
and  although  thrown  into  temporary  confusion  by  getting  entangled  in  tele- 
graph wires  strung  across  the  pike  by  the  Rebels,  they  rallied  and  drove  the 
enemy  out  of  Strasburg  and  across  the  bridge  at  Tumbling  Run  with  severe 
loss.    The  loss  to  the  regiment  was  7  or  8  killed  and  wounded,  and  Captain 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1113 

Dolan  and  Lieutenant  Hawkins  wounded,  the  latter  —  a  very  promising  young 
officer  —  mortally.  1 

On  June  6th  the  regiment  was  in  a  sharp  fight  near  Harrisonburg,  in  which 
Colonel  Ashby,  the  Rebel  cavalry  leader,  was  killed. 

On  June  8tli,  at  Cross  Keys,  the  regiment  in  supporting  Schirmer's  New 
lYork  Battery,  repulsed  the  Rebels  in  a  determined  effort  to  capture  it.  Thence 
it  followed  Jackson's  forces,  and  was  engaged  in  skirmishing  at  Port  Republic. 

This  pursuit  being  abandoned,  the  regiment  with  the  division  was  transferred 
to  Pope's  command,  and  crossing  into  Luray  Valley  was  engaged  for  two  or 
three  weeks  in  guarding  the  flanks  of  the  army  and  the  fords  of  the  upper 
Shenandoah.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  while  at  Luray  the  regiment  was  en- 
camped upon  a  hillside  under  which  the  now  famous  Caverns  of  Luray  were 
afterwards  discovered.  While  here  the  regiment  did  some  arduous  picket  and 
patrol  duty  and  lost  a  number  of  men  killed  and  wounded. 

From  here  the  Fourth  made  a  hurried  march  to  Culpeper  Court  House, 
thence  to  Slaughter  or  Cedar  Mountain,  in  which  battle,  on  August  9th,  Com- 
pany B,  Captain  Parnell,  participated  as  escort  to  General  Bohlen.  The  day 
following,  the  entire  regiment  advanced  to  the  Rapidan,  being  engaged  early 
in  the  morning  by  mistake  in  driving  in  our  own  picket  line  of  McDowell's 
Division.  During  the  next  ten  days  it  did  vidette  and  patrol  duty  along  the 
fords  of  the  Rapidan,  and  when  General  Pope  fell  back  towards  Manassas  was 
part  of  the  force  covering  the  retreat.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Nazer  was  now 
in  command,  and  your  speaker,  while  wishing  to  refrain  from  any  special  praise 
which  would  seem  invidious  to  any,  cannot  refrain  from  a  tribute  to  this  officer, 
—  kind  and  courteous,  tender  as  a  woman,  and  yet  brave  as  a  lion. 

During  the  ten  days  preceding  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run  the  regiment 
did  arduous  duty,  being  almost  constantly  on  the  march  and  daily  engaged 
in  skirmishing.  During  all  that  time  the  men  were  not  permitted  to  unsaddle. 
It  was  during  this  time  that  General  Bohlen  was  killed  at  Freeman's  Ford, 
Company  G  acting  that  day  as  his  escort. 

On  the  30th  of  August,  in  conjunction  with  the  First  Vermont  and  the  First 
.Michigan  Cavalry,  commanded  by  Colonel  Broadhead,  the  brigade  made  the 
only  cavalry  charge  of  the  battle.  This  was  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
of  that  disastrous  day,  and  the  charge  was  made  in  an  attempt  to  prevent  Stuart's 
Cavalry  from  turning  the  left  flank  of  the  army.  It  was  in  this  charge  that 
Colonel  Broadhead  was  mortally  wounded,  and  while  dying  dictated  his  letter 
to  President  Lincoln  accusing  Pope  of  imbecility  and  McDowell  of  treason. 

In  this  engagement  the  regiment  lost  heavily.  Subsequently  it  covered  the 
retreat  by  way  of  the  Chantilly  Pike  under  Sigel.  During  the  Antietam  cam- 
paign, the  Fourth  Cavalry  was  stationed  near  Fairfax  Court  House,  with  Sigel's 
Corps,  protecting  Washington,  and  it  was  here  that  Colonel  Cesnola  assumed 
command.  With  him  came  a  new  chaplain.  Rev.  John  C.  Jacobi.  Both  of 
these  officers  proved  valuable  acquisitions,  and  their  presence  was  soon  felt 
in  improved  discipline  and  morale.  In  November  the  corps  moved  to  Staf- 
ford Court  House,  where  Colonel  Cesnola  was  put  in  command  of  a  brigade, 
consisting  of  the  Sixth  Ohio,  Seventeenth  Pennsylvania,  and  his  own  regiment. 
During  the  winter  the  brigade,  nominally  in  winter  quarters,  did  arduous  duty 


'1 1 14  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

in  scouting  and  on  picket.  From  December  nth  to  i6th  tKe  regiment  took 
an  active  part  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  under  General  Burnside. 

Early  in  1863  the  Cavalry  Corps  was  organized,  and  the  Fourth  was  as- 
signed to  General  Averell's  Division,  Colonel  Duifie  commanding  the  brigade. 

March  17,  1863,  the  regiment  took  part  in  the  engagement  at  Kelly's  Ford, 
losing  one  officer  and  several  men  killed  and  wounded.  During  the  spring  of 
1863,  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  constant  scouting  and  skirmishing,  the 
division  under  General  Averell  making  an  expedition  to  Rapidan  Bridge,  and 
returning  in  time  to  participate  in  the  last  day's  fight  at  Chancellorsville.  Com- 
pany F  was  that  day  acting  as  escort  to  General  Sickles,  and  Captain  Sawyer 
commanding  the  company  had  his  horse  shot  under  him.  On  the  9th  of  June 
it  participated  in  a  battle  and  fought  with  credit;  as,  also,  at  Aldie,  on  June  17th, 
under  Pleasanton,  where  it  was  engaged  all  day,  with  the  loss  of  Colonel 
Cesnola,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  and  a  number  of  men  killed  and  wounded. 
At  this  fight  the  Fourth  had  the  honor  of  recapturing  some  80  men  of  the  First 
Maine  Cavalry,  and  taking  a  Rebel  battle  flag.  It  was  highly  complimented  by, 
General  Kilpatrick,  who  here  relieved  Colonel  Cesnola  from  an  unmerited  ar- 
rest, and  sent  him  with  a  squadron  of  the  regiment  to  the  relief  of  the  First 
Massachusetts  Cavalry,  in  which  service  he  was  captured,  remaining  a  prisoner 
for  thirteen  months.  At  Goose  Creek  Bridge,  Middleburg,  and  at  Upperville, 
June  19th  to  2ist,  hard  fighting  again  occurred.  At  the  latter  place  the  regi- 
ment suffered  heavily  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  among  the  latter 
being  Major  Parnell,  who  was  severely  wounded  but  who  afterwards  escaped. 

Then  came  the  fight  at  Ashby's  Gap.  Soon  afterwards  rapid  marches  were 
made  to  this  historic  field  of  Gettysburg,  where  the  regiment,  although  greatly 
reduced  in  numbers,  sustained  its  well-earned  reputation.  After  the  retreat  of 
the  Rebels  from  the  field  at  St.  James'  College,  near  Williamsport,  the  Fourth 
New  Yoric  took  the  advance  of  the  line. 

In  the  fall  of  1863,  tlie  regiment  took  part  in  the  cavalry  fights  at  Mine  Run, 
Culpeper,  Ely's  Ford,  United  States  Ford,  and  Raccoon  Ford,  where  brave 
Captain  Hart,  declining  to  surrender,  and  fighting  against  overwhelming  num- 
bers, was  literally  riddled  by  bullets.  In  this  action  Captain  Williams,  Lieu- 
tenants Smith  and  Ketchum,  and  24  men  were  captured  by  a  storming  party 
of  the  enemy  under  the  cover  of  their  guns.  The  engagements  at  Catlett's  and 
Brandy  Station  followed  soon  after,  and  in  December,  1863,  the  regiment  went 
into  winter  quarters  at  Culpeper. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1864,  General  Sheridan  assumed  command  of  the 
cavalry,  and  the  Fourth  New  York  was  transferred  to  the  Second  Brigade, 
First  Division,  under  General  Devin,  in  which  it  remained  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  participating  in  the  raid  around  Lee's  right  flank  and  in  the  engagements 
at  Yellow  Tavern  and  Meadow  Bridge.  On  their  return  to  the  main  body,  they 
were  sent  to  guard  the  prisoners  captured  by  General  Hancock.  Afterwards 
Colonel  Cesnola,  who  had  been  exchanged,  returned  to  the  regiment  and  re- 
sumed command.  He  was  ordered  to  take  charge  of  the  rear  guard  of  the 
army,  and  to  remove  all  stores  from  Belle  Plain  to  White  House  Landing,  re- 
porting to  General  Wilson,  June  3d.  General  Wilson  highly  complimented  the 
regiment,  and  Colonel  Cesnola's  command,  which  now  also  consisted  of  some 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1115 

infantry  and  dismounted  cavalry,  and  they  were  put  in  on  General  Bum-side's 
right,  in  the  Totopotomoy  fight,  and  did  good  service  there. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  1864,  the  regiment  started  with  General  Sheridan  on  the 
Trevilian  raid.  On  the  nth  and  12th  we  were  engaged,  losing  heavily,  Cap- 
tain Hall  being  severely  wounded  and  left  on  the  field,  and  Lieutenant  Wood 
killed.  During  July,  there  was  constant  scouting  and  reconnoitering.  On 
the  29th  the  regiment  with  some  other  cavalry  reached  a  point  within  four 
miles  of  Richmond,  and,  although  completely  surrounded,  returned  without  the 
loss  of  a  man,  bringing  with  them  a  number  of  prisoners.  Early  in  August, 
1864,  the  division  was  transferred  to  the  Shenandoah,  where,  under  General 
Sheridan,  it  operated  against  Early's  right  flank,  and  participated  in  the  engage- 
ments at  White  Post,  Front  Royal,  Halltown,  Winchester,  Cedar  Creek,  Fisher's 
Hill,  and  Lynchburg.  On  August  16, 1864,  the  lamented  Capt.  N.  H.  Mann  was 
killed.  On  the  27th  of  February,  1865,  what  was  left  of  the  regiment  was  con- 
solidated with  the  Ninth  New  York  Cavalry,  becoming  Companies  B,  E,  and 
L  of  that  regiment,  and  as  such  did  good  service  in  the  final  battles  of  the  war, 
at  Five  Forks  and  around  Petersburg  and  Richmond. 

Thus,  after  three  years  and  seven  months,  terminated  the  service  of  a  regi- 
ment of  New  York  Volunteer  Cavalry,  that  did  honor  to  the  State  it  repre- 
sented, and  to  the  nation  for  whose  honor  and  life  it  fought. 

It  participated  in  over  fifty  skirmishes,  reconnoissances,  and  engagements, 
a  list  of  which  would  be  too  long  to  be  given  here ;  but  the  most  important  ones 
have  been  referred  to.  This,  my  comrades,  is  a  hastily  written  and  imperfect 
sketch  of  the  formation  and  services  of  the  regiment  to  which  we  had  the  honor 
to  belong  during  the  late  internecine  conflict.  For  much  of  the  material  con- 
tained therein  I  am  indebted  largely  to  Maj.  W.  R.  Pamell,  who  served  with 
great  credit  and  distinction,  and  to  Comrade  Joseph  A.  Moore,  your  present 
efficient  secretary. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  our  regiment  was  the  result  of  the  first  out- 
pouring and  outburst  of  patriotism  that  gave  to  the  nation  its  best  and  bravest 
sons.  It  had  not  the  temptation  of  high  bounties  nor  the  fear  of  conscription 
to  help  fill  its  ranks.  Moved,  chiefly,  by  what  they  considered  a  call  to  duty, 
they  went  and, 

"  Past  fields  where  just  the  day  before, 
The  harvest  scythe  was  sweeping, 
They  rushed  where  soon  its  human  sheaves 
Death's  sickle  would  be  reaping.'' 

But  there  cannot  be  a  history  written  that  will  do  full  measure  of  justice  to 
the  individual  bravery,  privation,  hardship  and  suffering  of  either  the  officers 
or  the  men  of  the  brave  old  regiment.  The  Roll  of  Honor  would  be  a  long 
one,  and  it  is  altogether  fitting  that  we  should  meet  here  to-day  to  dedicate 
this  monument  to  their  memory.  For  this  is  historic  ground;  along  these 
heights  the  high  tide  of  the  Rebellion  surged,  and  from  here  receded  until  it 
ebbed  at  Appomattox. 

Let  us,  therefore,  to-day  set  up  and  dedicate  this  shaft  to  their  memory-  not 
so  much  to  emblazon  their  deeds  —  for  these  live  in  the  annals  of  our  country  — 


Iii6  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

but  to  show  how  much  we  loveJ  and  revered  them.  For  "  greater  love  hath  no 
man  shown  than  that  he  lay  down  his  life  to  save  his  friend,"  iand  in  this  our 
comrades  did  more  than  we,  for  they  gave  their  lives  that  the  Nation  might  live. 
Remember  that  these  were  not  soldiers  of  fortune;  they  were  not  fighting  far 
gain,  or  glory,  or  conquest;  but  men  fighting  for  the  idea  that  "  all  men  were 
created  free  and  equal ;  "  fighting  for  the  principle  that  "  Liberty  and  this  Union 
are  one  and  indivisible." 

To  us  they  have  committed  a  charge  that  we  preserve  the  principles  intact 
for  which  they  fought.  We  want  neither  the  iron  heel  of  the  monopolist  or 
the  bomb  of  the  anarchist.  But  we  want  a  Nation;  a  country  where  all  men  are 
free  to  eat  the  product  of  their  own  labor  under  their  own  vine  and  fig  tree^ 
with  none  to  molest  or  make  them  afraid.  This  they  have  given  us  in  charge. 
Let  us  see  to  it  that  their  confidence  is  not  misplaced. 

"  They  charge  us   from   these   solemn   heights 
From  fields  their  blood  has  watered; 
From  homes  where  pallid  women  weep. 
For  household  darlings  slaughtered; 
From  battle  trenches  where  they  fell. 
From  graves  all  dark  and  lonely, 
They  charge  us,  keep  this  sacred  soil 
For  Freedom's  footsteps  only!" 


ADDRESS  OF  LIEUT.  ALEX.  NEWBURGER'. 

Comrades  and  Friends: 

We  meet  to-day  under  auspices  most  favorable  to  render  our  tribute  at  the 
dedication  of  this  noble  monument,  erected  by  the  State  of  New  York,  with 
the  joint  co-operation  of  our  organization.  At  this  time  it  may  not  be  amiss 
to  give  a  brief  history  of  the  formation  of  our  Veteran  Association.  On  De- 
cember 6,  1871,  a  number  of  comrades  of  our  regiment  met  at  835  Broadway, 
New  York  City,  and  elected  Capt.  John  Hall,  Chairman,  and  Joseph  A.  Moore, 
Secretary.  A  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Comrades  McPhilipps, 
Moore,  and  C.  B.  Smith,  to  draft  a  constitution  and  by-laws. 

The  meeting  was  adjourned  subject  to  the  call  of  the  chair.  Captain  Hall's 
health  failed,  and  no  further  call  was  made  until  January  21,  1888,  when  pur- 
suant to  a  call  of  Lieut.  Alex.  Newburger,  twenty-eight  members  of  the  regi- 
ment met  at  404  Sixth  Avenue,  and  formed  the  present  organization.  They 
elected  the  following  as  officers: 

Alexander  Newburger,  President. 

J.  H.  Davis,  Vice-President. 

J.  Scheider,  Treasurer. 

Chas.  T.  Canfield,  Financial  Secretary. 

Joseph  A.  Moore,  Secretary. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg,  1117 

On  Decoration  Day  the  organization  turned  out  to  the  number  of  fifty,  fully 
mounted  and  equipped  as  during  the  war.  They  were  under  the  command 
of  Lieut.  Alex.  Newburger,  the  President,  and  carried  the  original  flags  and 
guidons  that  were  presented  to  the  organization  by  Gen.  L.  P.  di  Cesnola, 
making  a  very  handsome  and  noble  appearance.  The  matter  of  the  dedication 
of  our  monument  was  taken  into  consideration  and  the  following  committee 
was  appointed:  Alex.  Newburger,  Chairman,  Chas.  T.  Canfield,  Daniel  T. 
Bragraw,  Joseph  A.  Moore,  James  Carroll. 

A  special  train  was  chartered  on  September  i,  1889,  in  conjunction  with 
the  Tenth  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry.  We  proceeded  to  Gettysburg,  and 
here  we  are. 

I  shall  .make  no  attempt  to  formally  rehearse  the  number  of  battles  and 
engagements  that  our  regiment  participated  in,  for  you  all  know  the  hard- 
ships and  experiences  that  you  have  gone  through.  About  the  loth  of  Sep- 
tember, 1861,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Washington,  where  it  did  duty 
for  some  time,  mounted  but  without  arms.  In  September,  1862,  Col.  L.  P. 
di  Cesnola  was  appointed  colonel.  Afterwards  he  was  placed  in  command  of 
a  brigade,  and  Lieut.  Col.  W.  R.  Parnell,  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
regiment,  succeeded  to  the  command.  Our  regiment  was  never  absent 
a  day  from  active  operations.  It  served  with  credit  under  Rosecrans,  Sigel, 
Pope,  Stoneman,  Buford,  Averell,  Pleasanton,  Devin,  Torbert,  Kilpatrick,  Cus- 
ter, Merritt,  McClellan  and  Sheridan.  Starting  with  a  numerical  strength  of 
700,  and  having  added  to  it  at  various  times  from  900  to  1,000  recruits,  it 
numbered  scarcely  100  for  active  duty  when  discharged,  the  deficiency  being 
accounted  for  by  loss  in  action,  deaths,  wounds,  and  disease.  I  doubt,  com- 
rades, if  there  is  a  cavalry  regiment  that  has  any  better  record  of  service.        , 

We  have  assembled  here  to-day  to  unveil  our  monument  and  present  the 
same  to  the  Commissioners.  How  may  we  best  pay  our  tribute  of  debt  to  our 
dead  heroes?  I  reply,  in  the  words  of  Abraham  Lincoln:  "We  cannot  dedi- 
cate, we  cannot  consecrate,  we  cannot  hallow  this  ground.  The  soldiers  buried 
here  have  consecrated  it  far  above  our  power  to  add  or  detract."  They  were 
brave  men.  Liberty  owes  them  a  debt  which  sculptured  granite  cannot  repay. 
Our  circle  is  narrowing  with  the  passing  years. 

I  now  have  the  pleasure  and  honor  of  presenting  this  magnificent  monument, 
erected  to  the  memory  of  the  Fourth  New  York  Volunteer  Cavalry,  to  the 
Directors  of  the  Battlefield  Memorial  Association,  and  we  thank  them  for  the 
beautiful  and  appropriate  site  selected  by  them. 


HISTORICAL  NOTES, 

By  Col.  William  R.  Parnell. 

The  Fourth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteer  Cavalry,  was  organized  in  New 
York  City,  and  Yonkers,  Westchester  County.  In  the  early  part  of  May,  i86i,_ 
a  small  command  known  as  the  "  Lincoln  Greens  "  was  organized  (not  mus- 
tered) by  Major  Byron.  A  few  weeks  later  Major  Byron  went  West  to  accept 
a  staff  appointment,  and  C.  F.  Dickel  assumed  the  responsibility  of  raising  a 


ilii8  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

cavalry  regiment,  with  the  Lincoln  Greens  as  a  nucleus,  having  the  financial 
backing  of  Mr.  Louis  La  Farge.  The  name  was  changed  to  "  The  New  York 
Mounted  Rifles,"  and  subsequently  was  officially  designated  as  the  Fourth  New 
York  Volunteer  Cavalry.  The  rendezvous  was  first  at  Williamsburg,  L.  I.; 
then  at  Elm  Park,  and  in  July  it  was  again  changed  to  Yonkers,  where,  on  the 
loth  of  August,  1861,  two  companies  were  mustered  into  service.  By  Septem- 
ber iSth,  eight  companies  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service,  and 
transferred  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  two  more  companies  joined  soon 
after.  In  October,  1861,  the  regiment,  fully  equipped  and  mounted,  crossed 
the  long  bridge  and  encamped  near  Alexandria,  Va.,  Col.  C.  F.  Dickel  com- 
manding. 

About  the  ist  of  November,  camp  was  changed  to  Hunter's  Chapel,  and 
the  regiment  became  part  of  the  division  commanded  by  Brig.  Gen.  Louis 
Blenker.  Drills,  picket  duty,  and  reconnoissances  constituted  the  winter  work 
of  the  regiment.  In  March,  1862,  the  division  broke  camp  and  moved  into 
Western  Virginia,  where  it  became  a  part  of  General  Fremont's  command, 
which  returned  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley  late  in  May  and  followed  Jackson's 
Confederate  army  up  the  Valley.  The  regiment  was  engaged  at  Strasburg,  Har- 
risonburg, Cross  Keys,  and  Port  Republic  during  this  campaign.  In  August, 
1S62,  the  regiment  was  attached  to  General  Sigel's  Corps,  and  participated  in 
all  the  engagements  of  that  command,  including  Cedar  Mountain,  Manassas, 
etc. 

During  the  winter  of  1862-63,  the  regiment  camped  at  Staiiford  Court  House, 
Va.,  under  the  command  of  Louis  Palma  di  Cesnola,  who  had  succeeded  C.  F. 
Dickel  a!s  colonel.  Two  more  companies  joined  at  this  time,  making  the  full 
complement  of  twelve  companies.  On  the  organization  of  the  Cavalry  Corps, 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  the  Fourth  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade,  First 
Division,  and  continued  as  such  under  various  commanders,  until  February, 
1865,  when,  owing  to  the  muster-out  of  eight  companies  by  expiration  of  term 
of  service,  the  remaining  companies  were  consolidated  with  the  Ninth  New 
York  Cavalry.  Colonel  di  Cesnola  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Aldie, 
June  17,  1863;  Maj.  W.  R.  Parnell  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Upper- 
ville,  June  21,  1863,  but  escaped  from  Staunton,  Va.,  in  the  following  August. 

In  January,  1864,  the  command  of  the  regiment  devolved  upon  Lieut.  Col. 
W.  R.  Parnell,  who  remained  in  command  during  the  year,  with  the  exception 
of  a  short  time,  when  Colonel  di  Cesnola  was  in  command,  he  having  been 
exchanged  in  May,  1864;  but,  during  the  greater  period  of  his  subsequent  ser- 
vice Colonel  Cesnola  commanded  the  brigade.  The  following  is  a  summary  of 
skirmishes,  actions  and  general  engagements  in  which  the  regiment  took  part 
during  its  service  from  1861  to  1865: 

1S61. —  Annandale.  1862. —  Strasburg,  Woodstock,  Harrisonburg,  Cross 
Keys,  Port  Republic,  Sulphur  Springs,  Cedar  Mountain,  Rapidan  River, 
Waterloo  Bridge,  Bristoe  Station,  Salem  or  White  Plains,  Bull  Run,  Centre- 
ville,  near  Fairfax  Court  House,  Ashby's  Gap,  New  Baltimore,  Aldie,  Snicker's 
Gap,  Charlestown,  Fredericksburg,  Snickersville. 

1863. —  Grove  Church,  Rappahannock  Station,  Somerville,  Hartwood 
Church,    New    Hope    Landing,    Kelly's    Ford,    Chancellorsville    campaign. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1 119 

Rapidan  Station,  Snicker's  Gap,  (second  time,)  Brandy  Station,  Stevens- 
burg,  Aldie,  Middleburg,  Upperville,  Gettysburg,  Brandy  Station,  (second 
time,)  Rappahannock  Station,  (second  time,)  Culpeper,  Somerville  Ford, 
Raccoon  Ford,  (twice,)  Rapidan,  Madison  Court  House,  Orange  Court 
House,  Stevensburg,  Morton's  Ford,  Jack's  Shop,  Culpeper,  (second  time,) 
Bristoe  Station,  Oak  Hill,  Beverly  Ford,  Bealeton  Station,  Oak  Hill,  (second 
time,)  Rappahannock  Station  again.  Muddy  Run,  Germanna  Ford,  Robert- 
son's Tavern,  Parker's  Store,  Mine  Run,  Ely's  Ford,  Culpeper  Court  House 
again. 

1864. —  Sperryville,  Bamett's  Ford,  Beaver  Dam  Station,  Wilderness, 
Piney  Grove  Church,  Spotsylvania,  Pamunkey  River,  Trevilian  Station, 
Malvern  Hill,  White  House,  Jones'  Bridge,  Samaria  Church,  Prince 
George  Court  House,  before  Petersburg,  Lee's  Mills,  Deep  Bottom, 
Charles  City  Cross  Roads,  Millwood,  White  Post,  Crooked  Run,  Berryville, 
Cedarville  or  Front  Royal,  Summit  Point,  Halltown,  Smithfield,  Shepherds- 
town,  Leetown,  Bunker  Hill,  Opequon,  Winchester,  Mount  Jackson,  Luray, 
Port  Republic,  Mount  Crawford,  Newtown,  Jones'  Brook,  Cedar  Creek, 
Fisher's  Hill,  Nineveh,  Rood's  'Hill. 

1865. —  Raid  around  Richmond,  Five  Forks,  Surrender  of  Lee,  (Appomate- 
tox).  "         " 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  — FOURTH  N.  Y.  CAVALRY. 

In  May,  1861,  efforts  were  made  by  a  number  of  persons,  among  whom  was 
Christian  F.  Dickel  (who  had  for  a  long  time  carried  on  a  riding  academy, 
and  who  had  been  in  the  German  army),  to  organize  a  regiment  of  cavalry. 
For  some  time  they  had  difficult  work.  A  company  raised  by  Major  Byron, 
who  had  headquarters  at  the  Astor  House,  and  recruiting  offices  at  Nos.  37  and 
39  Bowery,  had  been  in  existence  some  time,  but  he  had  only  been  able  to 
raise  115  or  120  men. 

On  the  return  of  the  "  three  months'  men,"  a  number  of  the  members  of  the 
Twelftli  Regiment,  N.  Y.  S.  M.,  with  Capt.  Ralph  H.  Olmstead,  of  Company 
K,  joined  the  organization,  when  the  name  was  changed  to  New  York  Mounted 
Rifles,  and  so  rapidly  did  the  numbers  increase,  that  C.  F.  Dickel  was  appointed 
colonel,  and  the  rendezvous  was  changed  from  Elm  Park,  S.  I.,  to  Yonkers. 
Thereafter  the  regiment  was  known  as  a  Westchester  organization,  and  was 
mustered  in  as  such  on  the  2gth  of  August,  i86r,  by  Captain  Larned,  U.  S.  A., 
as  the  Fourth  New  York  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

About  the  loth  of  September,  1861,  the  battalion,  composed  of  Companies 
A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  and  F,  were  sent  to  Washington  where  they  did  duty  for  some 
time  mounted,  but  without  arms,  being  attached  to  Blenker's  Division.  The 
officers  were  chiefly  old  soldiers,  some  from  the  British  Army,  while  others 
had  served  in  Mexico  and  on  the  frontier.  They  used  the  winter  of  '61  to  ad- 
vantage, and  on  the  "  advance  "  in  '62,  the  regiment  readily  took  the  front 
rank  in  all  the  manoeuvres  under  Sumner  and  others,  until  their  transfer  to 
the  Mountain  Department,  under  General  Fremont. 


1 120  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

In  November,  1861,  Colonel  Dickel  resigned,  and  for  some  time  the  regiment 
was  commanded  by  Ferries  Nazer,  the  lieutenant  colonel,  who  was  well  known 
in  the  theatrical  world  of  New  York,  twenty  years  ago. 

In  September,  1862,  Louis  P.  di  Cesnola,  a  graduate  of  one  of  the  best 
European  military  schools,  and  a  man  of  fine  soldierly  qualities,  was  appointed 
colonel,  and  the  regiment  at  once  showed  his  master  hand.  He  was  soon  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  the  brigade,  and  the  command  devolved  on  Lieut. 
Col.  W.  R.  Parnell,  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  regiment,  and  sub- 
sequently first  lieutenant  of  the  First  U.  S.  Cavalry.  He  was  promoted  to 
captain  and  brevet  major  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  Indian 
wars,  and  is  now  on  the  retired  list,  residing  in  California. 

The  regiment  was  never  a  day  absent  from  the  scene  of  active  operations; 
it  served  with  credit  under  Fremont,  Rosecrans,  Sigel,  Pope,  and  Stoneman, 
as  many  flattering  encomiums  bestowed  on  it  by  these  commanders  can  testify. 
Starting  from  a  numerical  strength  of  700  men,  and  having  added  to  it  at 
various  times  from  900  to  1,000  recruits,  it  numbered  scarcely  100  men  for 
active  duty  when  discharged  —  the  deficiency  being  accounted  for  by  loss  in 
action,  deaths  from  wounds  and  disease,  disabilities,  etc.  It  performed  much 
arduous  and  hazardous  service,  scouting  and  reconnoitering,  being  invariably 
successful,  and  seldom  suffering  any  loss. 

At  Strasburg,  Va.,  on  the  ist  of  June,  1862,  a  small  portion  charged  on  the 
rear  guard  of  "  Stonewall "  Jackson's  retreating  army,  comprising  the  Fourth 
Virginia  ("  Black  Horse  ")  and  other  cavalry,  and  caused  a  vigorous  stampede, 
which  the  horses  and  men  were  too  exhausted  to  follow  up. 

At  Cross  Keys,  Va.,  the  regiment  opened  the  battle  in  skirmishing  order, 
and  afterwards  rendered  itself  conspicuous  by  its  determined  resistance  to 
several  charges  made  on  Schirmer's  Battery  by  the  Rebel  forces,  a  resistance 
which  was  successful  in  saving  the  battery  from  capture,  besides  inflicting  severe 
chastisement  on  the  enemy,  and  killing  the  Rebel'  General  Ashby.  Continuing 
with  the  army  during  Pope's  retreat,  the  regiment  performed  meritorious  ser- 
vice by  bringing  up  the  rear,  and  destroying  bridges  in  the  face  of  the  enemy's 
advance,  and  having  several  severe  skirmishes. 

At  Manassas  (Second  Bull  Run),  co-operating  with  the  First  Michigan 
Cavalry,  it  made  the  only  cavalry  charge  during  the  battle,  under  the  direction 
of  Gen.  John  Buford.  This  was  successful  in  checking  the  enemy's  advance 
and  saving  many  thousands  from  being  captured.  At  Kelly's  Ford,  on  the 
17th  of  March,  1863,  much  credit  was  awarded  to  the  regiment  for  its  con- 
spicuous gallantry.  At  Aldie,  on  the  17th  of  June,  while  a  portion  of  our 
cavalry  was  driven  back  and  nearly  captured,  the  regiment  opportunely  ar- 
rived, and  by  a  spirited  charge  turned  apparent  defeat  into  a  glorious  victory 
for  our  arms,  completely  routing  the  enemy,  and  cutting  off  nearly  100  men, 
with  a  battle  flag  —  all  of  whom  surrendered  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
First  Massachusetts  Cavalry.  In  this  engagement  Colonel  di  Cesnola  was 
captured,  after  his  horse  had  been  shot  under  him.  He  was  immured  in 
Libby  Prison  for  ten  months. 

Following  the  retreating  enemy  to  Middleburg  and  Upperville  the  regi- 
ment made  several  charges,  in  one  of  which  —  at  the  latter  place  —  General 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1121 

Kilpatrick  was  rescued  from  the  enemy's  hands  by  a  squadron  led  by  Captain 
Mann,  after  being  abandoned  by  another  regiment  with  which  General  Kil- 
patrick had  charged. 

On  the  i6th  of  September,  after  chasing  the  enemy  from  Brandy  Station 
across  the  Rapidan,  and  while  a  portion  of  the  regiment  was  on  picket  at 
Raccoon  Ford,  24  men  were  captured  by  the  enemy  after  being  sur- 
rounded, and  I  officer  and  2  men  killed.  The  little  party  could  not  possibly 
have  been  surrounded  but  for  the  careless  and  ignorant  way  in  which  the  line 
of  pickets  was  formed.  For  this  disaster,  however,  and  before  any  official 
report  had  been  made,  and,  further,  under  the  impression  that  a  whole  squadron 
had  been  captured,  the  regiment  was  prohibited  by  General  Pleasanton  from 
carrying  its  regimental  colors.  That  this  was  an  act  of  great  injustice  every 
officer  and  man  in  the  brigade  was  convinced,  and  repeated  efforts  were  made 
to  obtain  a  court  of  inquiry  on  the  matter  so  as  to  have  the  blame,  if  any,  put  on 
the  proper  party.  It  was  granted,  but  never  convened.  A  full  statement  of 
the  circumstances  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  War  resulted  in  having  the  order 
rescinded  on  January  6,  1864,  on  the  ground  of  "  meritorious  service." 

The  order  did  not,  discouraging  and  unjust  as  it  was,  alter  the  true  soldierly 
qualities  of  officers  or  men,  as  both  regimental  and  brigade  commanders  can 
attest. 

At  Trevilian  Station,  on  the  nth  and  12th  of  June,  the  regiment  was  en- 
gaged in  the  hottest  part  of  the  fight,  losing  heavily  in  officers  and  men,  but 
taking  upwards  of  100  prisoners  with  their  arms  and  equipments.  On  the 
lith,  after  driving  the  enemy  for  nearly  three  miles,  a  portion  of  the  regiment 
charged  and  recaptured  Trevilian,  after  General  Custer  had  been  forced  to 
retire,  holding  the  position  until  reinforced. 

On  the  29th  of  July,  the  regiment,  detached  on  a  reconnoissance,  reached 
White  Tavern,  four  miles  from  Richmond,  and  was  several  times  cut  off  from 
the  brigade;  but  by  careful  manoeuvring  escaped  without  the  loss  of  a  man, 
and  brought  in  several  prisoners. 

At  White  Post,  near  Newtown,  Va.,  on  the  nth  of  August,  the  regiment  again 
opened  the  fight  and  stubbornly  contested  the  advance  of  the  enemy  for  five 
hours  until  reinforcements  arrived. 

At  Front  Royal,  on  the  i6th  of  August,  the  regiment  (numbering  at  this 
time  150  men)  charged  on  a  regiment  of  Wickham's  Brigade,  which  was  driv- 
ing our  skirmishers,  capturing  in  the  charge  the  battle  flag  of  the  Third  Vir- 
ginia Cavalry,  besides  many  prisoners.  In  this  charge  Captain  Mann,  while 
gallantly  leading  his  squadron,  was  killed  —  having  been  shot  through  the  heart. 
A  series  of  charges  were  afterwards  made,  in  concert  with  the  Sixth  New  York 
Cavalry,  on  Cobb's  Legion  of  infantry  which  had  crossed  the  river  and  deployed 
on  our  left,  resulting  in  the  capture  of  their  battle  flag  (which  fell  to  the  Sixth 
New  York),  and  from  250  to  300  prisoners.  The  total  number  credited  to  the 
regiment  in  this  short  but  spirited  engagement  was  12  officers  and  119  men, 
and  the  entire  affair  was  characterized  by  the  division  general  as  "  superb." 

The  regiment  participated  in  the  battle  of  Winchester  as  body  guard  to 
General  Sheridan.  As  its  term  of  service  had  expired,  it  was  detailed  as  a 
guard  to  accompany  the  colors  captured  in  that  and  the  subsequent  fight  at 

71 


1 122  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Fisher's  Hill,  to  Washington.  Some  200  members  who  had  been  recruited 
subsequent  to  the  organization  of  the  regiment  were  transferred  to  the  Ninth 
New  York  Cavalry.  They  served  all  through  the  campaign,  closing  up  with 
the  great  cavalry  fight  at  Five  Forks,  and  were  subsequently  at  the  surrender 
of  Lee,  and  in  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  the  surviving  members  of  the  Fourth  New  York 
Cavalry  organized  a  "  Veteran  Association  "  which  still  exists  and  holds  its 
meetings  and  reunions  at  stated  times.  On  one  of  these  occasions  General  di 
Cesnola  presented  to  the  Association  the  original  flag  carried  by  the  regiment 
during  the  first  part  of  the  war. 

In  his  speech  of  presentation.  General  di  Cesnola  explained  how  the  guidon, 
already  in  shreds,  and  weather-beaten  a  quarter  century  ago,  was  preserved 
and  is  still  in  existence.  "  You  remember,"  he  said,  "  that  at  Aldie,  in  Virginia, 
on  the  17th  day  of  June,  1863,  our  regiment  was  ordered  to  charge  several  times 
in  succession  a  force  of  cavalry  in  front  of  us  which  outnumbered  the  Fourth 
New  York  Cavalry  ten  to  one;  it  was  a  senseless  order,  and  a  foolhardy  and 
reckless  act,  which  cost  our  regiment  many  precious  lives ;  but  we  obeyed  it.  At 
the  fifth  charge  to  which  I  led  you  on  that  memorable  day,  my  horse  was  shot 
dead  under  me.  I  was  wounded  by  a  sabre  cut  on  the  head  and  a  rifle  bullet 
in  my  left  arm,  and  you  thought  me  dead;  but  I  was  only  stunned  by  the  blow. 
The  enemy  picked  me  up  and  sent  me  to  Libby  Prison.  My  personal  effects 
were  forwarded  from  our  regimental  headquarters  to  my  family  in  New  York, 
and  with  them  inadvertently  went  also  a  package  which  contained  the  '  field 
orders,'  which  you  see  before  you,  and  the  flag.  After  the  war  I  was  preparing 
to  go  to  Europe  on  a  consular  mission,  and  while  packing  up  my  effects  the 
flag  was  discovered  among  them.  Doubtful  if  I  should  ever  return  to  this 
country,  I  made  a  present  of  it  to  a  life-long  friend.  For  the  last  twenty-three 
years  he  has  preserved  our  banner  with  reverent  and  loving  care,  and  we  owe 
him  our  heartfelt  thanks  for  it.  When  he  heard  of  the  formation  of  this 
Association,  he  generously  sent  the  flag  back  to  me,  knowing  that  I  would  be 
glad  to  have  you  become  the  custodians  of  it  once  more,  and  during  the  rest 
of  your  life.  Let  us  keep  it,  then,  my  dear  comrades,  with  jealous  care,  and 
never  forget  that  if  our  old  battle  flag  is  to-day  in  our  possession,  we  owe  it 
to  those  brave  members  of  our  regiment  who  shed  their  blood  in  its  defence, 
and  preserved  it  for  us  to  this  day." 


F.  J.   SETERENCK,  PHOTO. 


5th    new   YORK    CAVALRY. 
On  hill  southwest  of  Round  Top. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  I123 


ilNSCRIPTIONS.) 


{Front.) 

6th  new  YORK  CAVALRY 

1st  brig.  3d  DIV, 

CAVALRY  CORPS. 

(Reverse.) 

July  3,  1863,  this  Regiment  under 

COMMAND   OF  MaJ.   JoHN   HaMMOND   HERE 

supported  Battery  E,  4th  U.  S.  Horse  Artillery, 

Lieut.  S.  S.  Elder,  losing  6  men. 

This  regiment,  June  30,  1863,  met  and 

repulsed  a  portion  of  Lee's  Cavalry,  under 

the  personal  command  of  Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart, 

in  the  streets  of  Hanover,  in  a  hand-to-hand 

fight,  capturing  Lieut.  Col.  Paine  and  75  men, 

with  a  loss  of  26  Men  killed  and  wounded. 

July  2,  1863 

this  regiment  attacked  Gen.  Stuart's 

CAVALRY  at  HuNTERSTOWN  AND  AFTERWARDS 
MADE  A   FLANK  MOVEMENT  TO   THIS   POSITION 


1 124  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

5th  regiment  cavalry, 

July  3,  i888. 

Historical  Sketch  by  C.  T.  S.  Pierce. 

On  the  26th  of  July,  1861,  the  Secretary  of  War  authorized  Col.  Othniel 
DeForest,  of  New  York  City,  to  raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry.  By  the  last  of 
the  following  September  there  had  been  gathered  on  Staten  Island,  New  York 
Harbor,  the  nucleus  of  a  fine  cavalry  brigade.  From  this  assemblage  of  re- 
cruits was  organized  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  known  as  the  "  First  Ira 
Harris  Guard,"  in  honor  of  Senator  Ira  Harris  of  Albany.  New  York  City 
had  contributed  liberally  of  men,  though  whole  companies  and  parts  of  com- 
panies were  raised  in  Essex,  Wyoming,  Allegany  and  Tioga  Counties.  A 
few  men  were  also  obtained  from  the  States  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  and 
New  Jersey.  No  bounties  were  paid  to  recruits;  but  a  bounty  of  $100  was 
promised  to  be  paid  by  the  United  States,  at  the  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1861,  on  Staten  Island,  New  York  Harbor,  the  field 
and  staff  of  the  regiment  were  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States 
for  three  years  by  Capt.  L.  S.  Larned  of  the  United  States  Army.  The  muster 
took  effect  from  this  date.  October  31st,  the  regiment  was  inspected  for  the 
first  time  by  Lieut.  Col.  D.  B.  Sackett,  of  the  United  States  Army.  The  last 
company  had  now  been  mustered  in,  and  the  command  stood  with  a  strength  of 
1,064  men. 

In  November,  1861,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Annapolis,  Md.  On  the 
28th,  the  men  pitched  their  tents  about  three  miles  from  the  city,  at  "  Camp 
Harris,"  where  they  were  drilled  and  instructed  by  that  thorough  disciplinarian, 
Gen.  John  P.  Hatch,  also  of  the  United  States  Army.  The  last  of  March,  1861, 
the  regiment  broke  camp,  having  been  ordered  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley  to 
report  to  Gen.  Hatch,  commanding  cavalry  under  General  Banks.  It  reported 
to  him  at  Harrisonburg,  on  May  3d.  The  regiment  served  in  Banks'  campaign 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  its  first  skirmish  being  at  Port  Republic,  on  May  2, 
1862.  From  this  time  on  until  the  close  of  the  war  it  saw  continuous  active 
service.  During  July,  it  did  picket  and  scouting  duty  along  the  Blue  Ridge 
and  in  Central  Virginia.  On  August  2d,  under  General  Crawford,  it  was  en- 
gaged in  a  cavalry  battle  at  Orange  Court  House,  Va.  In  Pope's  campaign 
it  participated  in  the  battles  of  Cedar  Mountain,  Groveton,  Second  Bull  Run, 
and  Chantilly. 

The  fall  and  winter  of  1862  and  1863  were  spent  in  Virginia  doing  outpost 
under  command  of  Major  General  Stahel.  In  June,  1863,  General  Pleasanton 
reviewed  Stahel's  Division,  after  which  the  entire  force  was  reorganized,  it 
becoming  that  famous  Third  Division,  Cavalry  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
with  General  Kilpatrick  in  command.  The  First  Brigade  consisted  of  the  First 
Vermont,'  First  W.  Virginia,  Eighteenth  Pennsylvania,  and   Fifth   New  York, 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1125 

Brigadier  General  Farnsworth  commanding.  General  Custer  commanded  the 
Second  Brigade,  which  was  composed  of  Michigan  regiments. 

The  division  then  started  on  the  Gettysburg  campaign,  during  which  the 
regiment  was  constantly  engaged.  General  Farnsworth  was  killed  at  Gettys- 
burg, and  the  regiment  lost  heavily  in  officers  and  men  at  Hanover,  Pa.,  Gettys- 
burg, Monterey  Pass,  Hagerstown,  and  Boonsborough. 

The  Fifth  Cavalry,  commanded  by  Col.  John  Hammond,  of  Crown  Point, 
N.  Y.,  had  already  signalized  itself  under  its  intrepid  leader,  General  (then 
Major)  Hammond,  in  the  sanguinary  struggles  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
with  its  desperate  foe,  the  army  of  General  Lee.  On  the  30th  of  June,  1863, 
at  Hanover,  Pa.,  fourteen  miles  from  Gettysburg,  this  regiment  was  the  first 
to  exchange  shots  and  cross  sabres  on  free  soil  with  the  daring  and  desperate 
invaders  who  fought  under  the  justly  celebrated  leader  of  the  Confederacy, 
Gen.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart.  That  accurate  military  critic,  the  Comte  de  Paris, 
himself  a  participant  in  most  of  our  great  battles  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion, 
speaks  in  his  work  upon  our  Civil  War  of  this  engagement  as  "  the  bloody 
battle  of  Hanover."  The  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Hammond, 
bore  the  brunt  of  the  attack,  and,  after  repelling  the  charge,  charged  the  foe 
in  turn  and  gloriously  drove  him  from  the  field.  The  sad  and  long  list  of 
casualties  in  killed  and  wounded  attest  the  desperate  character  of  that  conflict. 
This  was  the  real  beginning  of  the  famous  battle  of  Gettysburg,  fought  July  i, 
2,  and  3,  1863.  Then  this  command,  with  the  brigade  and  division  to  which 
it  was  attached,  under  Kilpatrick  and  the  lamented  Farnsworth,  hung  upon 
and  harassed  the  enemy  in  the  vicinity  of  Gettysburg  until,  in  the  early  morning 
of  July  3d,  the  regiment  took  a  position  on  our  extreme  left,  the  Fifth  support- 
ing Elder's  U.  S.  Battery.  Lieutenant  Elder  was  a  glorious  type  of  the  bom 
soldier,  here  commanding  a  battery  of  the  regular  army,  who  only  wanted 
to  know  "  if  John  Hammond,  and  his  famous  New  York  troopers  were  with 
him,"  to  brave  the  most  daring  deeds.  Here  at  the  base  of  Big  Round  Top, 
just  before  Pickett  made  his  famous  charge,  this  cavalry  went  over  ground  to- 
day deemed  impassable  for  horse,  gallantly,  desperately,  charged  the  enemy's 
infantry  and  in  a  large  degree  diverted  Lee's  forces,  so  that  the  mad,  grand, 
historic  charge  of  Pickett  proved  a  brilliant  but  disastrous  failure,  and  "  the 
blood-flecked  tidal  wave  of  fratricidal  war "  here  receded  and  so  continued, 
until  it  settled  into  the  blessed  calm  of  national  peace. 

On  July  i6th,  the  regiment  recrossed  the  Potomac,  at  Harper's  Ferry.  On 
September  13,  1863,  it  crossed  the  Rappahannock  at  Kelly's  Ford,  and  the 
same  day  fought  at  the  battle  of  Culpeper  Court  House.  It  participated  in 
all  the  cavalry  fights  of  that  fall,  south  of  the  Rappahannock,  including  Rus- 
sell's Ford,  James  City,  Brandy  Station,  Groveton,  and  Buckland  Mills.  Many 
of  the  regiment  re-enlisted  during  January,  1864,  and  were  mustered  in  as 
veterans.  A  thirty  days'  furlough  was  promised  them,  but  not  given  until 
General  Kilpatrick  returned  from  his  raid  on  Richmond,  in  March. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  1864,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  reviewed  by  Lieu- 
tenant General  Grant,  on  the  plains  near  Stevensburg,  Va.,  and  General  Sheri- 
dan was  placed  in  command  of  the  Cavalry  Corps.  May  4th  we  crossed  the 
Rapidan  at  Germanna  Ford  and  opened  up  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.     Dur- 


1 1 26  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

ing  this  campaign  our  engagements  occurred  daily  and  our  losses  at  Parker's 
Store,  Wilderness,  Milford  Station,  Ashland,  and  on  the  Wilson  Raid  at  White 
Oak  Swamp,  Stony  Creek,  and  Reams'  Station,  were  very  heavy. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  1864,  we  took  transports  at  City  Point  for  Washington, 
D.  C,  and  arrived  at  Geisboro  Point  on  the  7th.  After  a  six  days'  rest  the 
regiment  was  detailed  to  escort  a  despatch  bearer  from  Washington  to  General 
Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  making  a  seventy-five  mile  march  in 
twenty-two  hours.  The  regiment  was  made  sad,  August  30th,  by  the  de- 
parture of  Col.  John  Hammond,  who  had  been  its  commandant  from  its  en- 
trance into  active  campaigning,  first  as  major  and  then  as  lieutenant  colonel. 
By  his  gallantry  in  battle  and  courteous  treatment  of  his  men  he  had  won  the 
love  and  respect  of  all.  The  regiment  was  also  an  active  participant  in  Sheri- 
dan's brilliant  campaign  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  At  the  battle  of.  Cedar 
Creek,  on  the  19th  of  October,  1864,  no  regiment  equalled  the  success  of  the 
Fifth  New  York,  as  the  following  receipt  will  show: 

"  Headquarters,  First  Brigade,  Third  Cavalry  Division, 

"  October  21,  1864. 
"  Received  of  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry,  commanded  by  Maj.  A.  H.  Krom, 
22  pieces  of  artillery,  14  caissons,  i  battery  wagon,  17  army  wagons,  6  spring 
wagons  and  ambulances,  83  sets  of  artillery  harness,  75  sets  of  wagon  harness, 
98  horses,  67  mules,  captured  in  action  in  battle  of  19th  of  October,  1864,  on 
Cedar  Creek,  Va. 

"  (Signed,)  A.  C.  M.  PENNINGTON,  Jr., 

"  Col.  Commanding  Brigade." 

In  November  of  this  year  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  act  as  escort  for 
General  Sheridan,  and  occupied  that  position  until  the  following  April.  The 
following  is  the  last  order  ever  issued  to  the  regiment: 

"  Headquarters  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry, 

"  In  the  field  near  Winchester,  Va., 

"  July  18,  1865. 

"  In  compliance  with  orders  from  the  commanding  general  the  regiment 
will  leave  Stevenson's  Station  this  p.  m.  at  3  o'clock,  en  route  to  New  York 
City  for  final  discharge.  Transportation  will  be  furnished  for  officers'  horses  to 
place  of  muster-out.  The  regiment  will  march  for  the  depot  at  12  m.  Every 
officer  and  enlisted  man  will  be  in  camp  to  march  promptly  at  that  hour.  En 
route  home  and  until  final  discharge,  it  is  earnestly  hoped  the  regiment  will 
sustain  its  good  name. 

"  After  four  years  of  hardship  and  honor,  you  return  to  your  State  to  be 
mustered  out  of  service,  and  to  return  once  more  to  a  peaceful  life  among 
your  friends  and  loved  ones.  In  a  few  days  you  will  be  scattered,  and  the 
Fifth  New  York  Cavalry  will  be  no  more.  The  hardships  you  have  endured, 
the  comforts  of  which  you  have  been  deprived,  the  cheerful  and  proud  manner 
in  which  you  have  always  done  your  duty,  and  the  successes  you  have  met 
with  on  the  battlefield,  have  won  the  admiration  of  every  general  officer  under 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  '  1127 

whom  you  have  served.    Surpassed  by  none,  equalled  by  few,  your  record  as 
a  regiment  is  a  glorious  and  honorable  one.     May  your  future  lives  be  as 
prosperous  and  as  full  of  honor  to  yourselves  as  the  past  four  years  have  been 
to  your  country,  to  your  State,  and  to  the  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry. 
"  (Signed,)  A.  H.  WHITE, 

"  Col.  Comdg.  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry." 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  at  Hart's  Island,  New  York  Harbor,  July 
19,  1865.    Its  enrollment  and  losses  were  as  follows: 

Original  number  of  men,  1,064;  recruits  added,  1,074;  original  number  of 
officers,  50;  whole  number  of  officers,  124;  original  officers  remaining,  4; 
officers  promoted  from  the  ranks,  36;  officers  killed  and  mortally  wounded,  8; 
officers  wounded,  22;  officers  captured,  19;  officers  who  died  of  disease,  4; 
officers  dismissed  by  order  of  War  Department,  5;  officers  resigned,  37;  officers 
discharged  at  expiration  of  term  of  service,  13;  enlisted  men  killed  and  mortally 
wounded,  95;  enhsted  men  wounded,  236;  enHsted  men  captured,  517;  enlisted 
men  killed  accidentally,  18;  enlisted  men  who  died  in  Rebel  prisons,  114;  en- 
listed men  who  died  of  disease,  90;  enlisted  men  discharged  by  reason  of 
wounds,  25;  enlisted  men  discharged  by  reason  of  disability,  295;  enlisted  men 
discharged  at  expiration  of  term,  302;  enlisted  men  transferred  to  other  com- 
mands, 103;  enHsted  men  who  re-enlisted  in  1864,  212;  number  of  battles  fought, 
52;  number  of  skirmishes  fought,  119;  number  of  wounds  received  in  action, 
320;  men  lost  in  action  and  never  heard  from,  18;  men  remaining  and  mustered 
out  with  regiment,  694;  original  veterans  remaining,  167;  original  horses  re- 
maining, 7, 


THE  FIFTH  NEW  YORK  CAVALRY  AT  GETTYSBURG. 
By  Charles  B.  Thomas. 

The  Third  Division,  Cavalry  Corps,  broke  camp  at  Littlestown,  Pa.,  early  on 
the  morning  of  June  30th,  and  moved  steadily  and  rapidly  to  and  through  the 
town  of  Hanover,  Pa.,  until  the  head  of  the  column  was  some  miles  beyond, 
when  a  halt  was  made  leaving  the  rear  guard,  consisting  of  the  Eighteenth 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  just  south  of  and  near  the  entrance  to  the  town.  As 
each  regiment  passed  through  by  the  way  of  Frederick  Street  the  people  came 
flocking  from  every  direction,  lining  both  sides  of  this  thoroughfare,  to  pay 
their  respects  to  the  Union  soldiers,  exchanging  words  of  patriotic  greeting, 
and  at  the  same  time  bountifully  providing  all  with  the  good  things  their  well- 
filled  larders  had  contained. 

When  the  column  came  to  halt,  the  Fifth  New  York  had  reached  the 
centre  of  or  near  the  market  place,  and  like  the  rest  were  being  entertained  at 
this  patriotic  reception.  No  thought  of  the  enemy,  or  of  his  presence,  had 
entered  the  minds  of  either,  when  about  10  o'clock  there  came  suddenly  an 
end  to  this  most  enjoyable  social  scene,  rudely  brought  to  a  close  by  the  report 
of  a  cannon  coming  from  south  of  the  town,  and  from  the  right  and  rear  of 
our  line  of  march.  This  at  first  was  taken  for  a  friendly  salute;  but  our  minds 
were  quickly  disabused  of  this  idea  by  the  continued  reports  and  the  bursting 


1128  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

of  shell.  It  was  found  that  the  enemy  had  taken  possession  of  a  neighboring 
hill.  This  sudden  surprise  had  a  strange  effect  upon  the  people,  who,  at  first, 
did  not  realize  what  had  happened.  Then  came  the  sounding  of  bugles,  the 
hurried  orders,  the  quick  movements  of  the  troops,  and  the  fierce  Rebel  yell 
which  sounded  louder  and  louder  as  the  enemy  came  charging  on  and  on  into 
the  town.  Hearing  and  seeing  all  this  they  began  to  realize  that  this  was 
war,  cruel  war.  The  women  and  children  fled  in  terror  from  the  scene,  seek- 
ing shelter  within  their  homes.  What  a  change!  In  less  time  than  it  takes 
to  tell  it  the  streets  were  full  of  live  Rebels  who  penetrated  to  the  very  centre 
of  the  town,  even  to  the  market  place.  They  had  charged  upon  the  rear  guard 
and  driven  them  in,  upon  and  through  the  ranks  of  the  Fifth,  upon  whom  the 
main  force  of  the  attack  fell. 

But  we  were  not  to  be  so  easily  disconcerted  or  panic  stricken.  Major  Ham- 
mond, who  was  in  command  of  the  regiment,  with  his  accustomed  coolness  and 
bravery  took  in  the  situation,  and  quickly  turned  the  head  of  the  column  to 
the  left,  down  a  side  street  towards  the  railroad  depot,  and  formed  into  line 
upon  a  vacant  lot. 

Breaking  by  fours,  he  ordered  and  led  a  charge  with  drawn  sabres.  We  met 
them  at  the  market-house,  and  were  instantly  engaged  in  a  fierce  hand-to-hand 
conflict.  Our  onslaught  was  so  sudden  and  strong  that  notwithstanding  they 
made  a  gallant  resistance  they  were  compelled  to  withdraw  (though  fresh  regi- 
ments were  brought  up  to  their  support  again  and  again),  and  fell  back  over  the 
hill  under  cover  of  their  guns.  As  one  writer  says :  "  In  less  tlian  fifteen 
minutes  from  the  time  they  charged  they  were  driven  from  this  loyal  city." 
Many  were  found  hiding  in  the  wheatfield  through  which  they  charged,  and  in 
other  out-of-the-way  places,  leaving  the  streets  strewn  with  many  of  their  dead, 
dying  and  wounded,  with  many  dead  and  wounded  horses,  and  the  debris  which 
always  follows  such  a  conflict. 

In  the  meantime  Generals  Kilpatrick  and  Farnsworth,  the  latter  commanding 
the  First  Brigade,  who  were  some  miles  in  advance,  at  the  head  of  the  column 
in  the  direction  of  York,  hearing  the  sound  of  cannon,  started  back  in  hot 
haste,  arriving  upon  the  field.  The  former  took  personal  charge  of  subsequent 
movements.  His  orders  were  given  with  great  skill,  and  were  executed  by 
the  Fifth  with  promptness  and  courage,  though  the  town  had  previously  been 
cleared  of  the  enemy.  Elder's  United  States  Battery,  well  supported,  and 
posted  on  a  hill  to  the  north  and  east  of  the  town,  on  the  right  flank  of  the 
enemy,  soon  silenced  his  guns,  compelling  him  to  retire  to  the  south,  east,  and 
north  in  order  to  reach  Lee's  army,  going  by  the  way  of  Hanover  Junction 
with  his  right  wing  and  passing  Wrightsville  on  the  Susquehanna  River. 

The  loss  to  the  enemy  was  25  dead  and  80  prisoners,  a  number  of  whom 
were  severely  wounded.  Many  of  the  wounded  made  their  escape;  the  number 
must  have  reached  at  least  30  or  40.  He  received  a  most  complete  punishment 
for  his  presumption  in  attacking  us  while  so  pleasantly  engaged.  Revenge  is 
sweet.  The  colors  of  the  Thirteenth  Virginia  Cavalry  were  captured  by  Sergt. 
Thomas  Burke,  of  Company  A,  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry. 

Among  the  prisoners  taken  was  Colonel  Paine,  who  commanded  a  brigade, 
made  prisoner  by  Abram  Folger,  of  Company  H.  The  facts  of  this  capture,  as 
told  by  himself  (Folger),  are  as  follows:    "  While  charging  in  the  edge  of  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1129 

town  and  getting  separated  from  my  regiment  I  was  made  a  prisoner  by 
Colonel  Paine  and  .was  being  taken  to  the  rear.  On  the  main  road,  just  outside 
of  the  town,  was  situated  a  tannery,  the  vats  of  which  were  under  cover  and 
very  close  to  the  street.  I  was  walking  along  beside  the  colonel's  orderly  and 
as  we  came  near  these  tannery  vats  I  saw  a  carbine  lying  on  the  ground.  When 
I  came  up  to  it  I  quickly  took  it.  Seeing  it  was  loaded  I  fired  and  killed  Paine's 
horse,  which,  in  its  death  struggle,  fell  over  towards  the  vats,  throwing  Paine 
head  first  into  one  of  them,  the  colonel  going  completely  under  the  tanning 
liquid.  Seeing  that  the  colonel  was  safe  enough  for  the  moment  I  turned  my 
attention  to  his  orderly,  who,  finding  his  pistol  had  fouled  and  was  useless, 
was  about  to  jump  his  horse  over  the  fence  to  the  right  and  escape  that  way 
if  he  could,  but  not  being  able  to  do  so,  concluded  he  had  better  surrender. 
The  reason  I  did  not  fire  upon  him  was  that  the  last  shot  in  the  captured  carbine 
was  fired  at  the  colonel's  horse.  As  the  orderly  did  not  know  this,  it  was  my 
play  to  make  him  think  instant  death  awaited  him  if  he  attempted  escape.  So 
I  took  him  in  and  disarmed  him,  and  made  him  help  to  get  the  colonel  out  of 
the  tanning  liquid.  His  gray  uniform,  with  its  white  velvet  facing,  his  white 
gauntlet  gloves,  face  and  hair,  had  all  become  completely  stained  so  that  he 
presented  a  most  laughable  sight.  I  then  mounted  the  orderly's  horse,  and 
marched  them  before  me  to  the  market  place,  where  I  turned  them  over  to  the 
authorities,  who  laughed  heartily  at  the  comical  predicament  of  the  colonel.  I 
had  been  captured  by  Colonel  Paine's  command  the  winter  before,  and  you 
can  just  believe  that  I  was  glad  to  return  the  compliment  with  interest." 

The  loss  in  the  Fifth  New  York  at  Hanover  was  9  killed,  31  wounded,  and 
15  taken  prisoners.  Among  the  killed  was  Adj.  Alex.  Gall,  who  fell  in  the 
charge  on  Frederick  Street  in  front  of  the  last  house  to  the  right  as  we  charged 
out,  driving  the  enemy  from  the  town.  The  fatal  ball  entered  his  left  eye  and 
passed  through  his  head,  killing  him  instantly.  Our  wounded  were  most 
kindly  provided  for  by  the  citizens  during  and  after  the  fight;  and  they  could 
not  thank  or  express  their  unbounded  gratitude  enough  to  us,  their  protectors 
and  defenders.  They  provided  a  hospital  by  throwing  open  the  doors  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  Church,  where  the  wounded  of  both  friend  and  foe  received 
equal  care.  They  helped  us  to  bury  the  dead  and  remove  all  evidence  possible 
of  the  conflict.  None  who  were  wounded,  sick  and  sore,  can  ever  forget  the 
kindness  of  the  women  of  this  quiet,  little  town.  For  all  their  kindly  acts  at 
that  time  the  citizens  of  Hanover  should  be  held  in  kindest  remembrance  by 
both  Blue  and  Gray.  Both  sides  will  long  remember  that  30th  day  of  June, 
1863.  We  bivouacked,  built  our  fires,  and  spent  the  night  upon  the  scene  of 
our  victory.  Though  taken  by  surprise  we  met  and  defeated  the  enemy. 
Though  some  were  lost,  they  died  valiantly  fighting  for  flag  and  country. 

On  July  1st,  at  li  a,  m.,  the  First  Brigade  moved  via  Abbotstown  to  Berlin, 
Pa.,  and  followed  the  enemy  to  Rosetown.  The  Fifth  New  York  and  a  section 
of  Elder's  Battery  was  sent  on  a  reconnoissance  to  or  near  York,  Pa.,  taking 
several  prisoners  and  returning  to  Berlin  by  midnight. 

July  2d,  the  division  moved  to  within  four  miles  of  Gettysburg,  where  we 
could  see  the  battle  then  going  on  in  its  vicinity;  thence  We  moved  to  New 
Oxford  and  Hunterstown,  where  we  were  engaged  with  Stuart's  Cavalry  in  a 
hard,  bold  and  bloody  fight  until  after  dark,  in  which  we  whipped  them  hand- 


1 1 30  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

somely.  This  was  on  the  extreme  right  of  our  line.  The  work  was  made  up 
of  charges  and  counter  charges.  Pistols,  sabres,  and  carbines  were  freely  and 
determinedly  used  with  great  effect,  our  artillery  keeping  up  its  fire  long  into 
the  night,  and  after  the  infantry  around  Gettysburg  had  ceased  fighting.  Gen- 
eral Kilpatrick  had  foiled  Stuart,  who  had  apparently  hoped  to  break  our  flank 
and  get  to  our  rear,  and  thus  attack  our  wagon  train,  capture,  or  destroy  it. 
But  he  was  driven  back  and  badly  beaten. 

During  the  night,  about  lo  p.  m.,  our  division  moved  from  the  right  to  the 
left  flank,  about  two  and  one-half  miles  from  Gettysburg,  near  Little  Round 
Top,  arriving  there  at  9  a.  m.,  on  the  morning  of  July  3d.  The  remaining 
divisions  of  the  corps  were  left  to  look  after  the  right,  and  keep  an  eye  upon 
Stuart.  Our  work  here  was  with  infantry.  This  being  discovered,  we  were 
reinforced  by  General  Merritt's  brigade  of  regulars,  of  the  First  Division, 
who  reached  us  about  10  o'clock,  a.  m.  General  Kilpatrick  sent  out  skirmishers 
upon  the  enemy's  right  flank  and  rear  with  the  design  of  creating  a  panic  if 
possible,  and  force  him  back  upon  his  train.  About  3  o'clock,  p.  m.,  during  the 
most  dreadful  cannonading  ever  heard,  a  large  force  of  infantry  was  seen  ad- 
vancing in  our  direction  with  the  apparent  design  of  wiping  out  the  cavalry, 
and  by  so  doing  turn  our  position  on  Little  Round  Top,  which  was  occupied 
by  artillery  with  infantry  support.  Taking  in  the  situation,  and  in  order  to 
defeat  this  apparent  design.  General  Kilpatrick  quickly  made  the  best  dis- 
position of  his  troops.  He  ordered  General  Farnsworth  to  take  the  First 
West  Virginia  Cavalry,  Eighteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  and  First  Vermont 
Cavalry,  and  charge  and  break  this  line  if  possible,  as  it  must  be  checked. 
After  placing  the  Fifth  New  York  in  support  of  Elder's  United  States  Battery, 
which  was  exposed  to  a  galling  fire,  Farnsworth  took  the  regiments  named  and 
led  them  gallant.  :y  in  this  unequal  contest,  striking  the  enemy  upon  the  flank 
and  driving  him  back  upon  his  own  lines. 

This  attack  was  brief  and  successful,  preventing,  as  prisoners  said,  the  flank 
movement  which  was  the  design  of  their  leaders.  Our  brigade  lost  heavily. 
General  Kilpatrick,  in  his  official  report,  said:  "In  this  charge  the  gallant 
Farnsworth  lost  his  life.  Short  and  brilliant  was  his  career.  On  the  26th  a 
general,  on  the  ist  he  baptized  his  star  in  blood,  and  on  the  3d  for  the  honor 
of  his  brigade  he  yielded  up  his  noble  life."  While  the  Fifth  New  York  was 
supporting  the  battery  a  shell  passed  through  the  body  of  Daniel  Hawley,  Com- 
pany C,  killing  a  horse  and  afterwards  exploding  and  wounding  John  Buckley 
of  the  same  company,  and  several  others.  Elder's  Battery  was  handled  with 
great  skill  and  with  wonderful  effect,  two  or  three  times  silencing  a  Rebel  bat- 
tery that  could  not  be  seen,  something  seldom  done  or  accomplished. 

Thus  before  the  sun  sank  behind  the  western  hills  it  was  apparent  that  the 
Union  forces  had  achieved  a  great  victory,  that  the  Rebels  had  met  tlieir 
Waterloo  at  the  foot  of  Little  Round  Top,  and  that  the  great  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg was  ended.  The  dead,  dying,  and  wounded  by  the  thousands  were  to  be 
seen  everywhere,  mingled  with  debris  of  every  description.  After  three  days 
of  almost  continuous  fighting,  tired  and  nearly  worn  out,  that  night  we  rested 
upon  the  field  so  stubbornly  fought  for  and  at  such  a  sacrifice  won.  The 
enemy  immediately  began  the  evacuation  of  their  position,  and  fell  back  towards 
.the  Potomac  River. 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT 


6th    new   YORK   CAVALRY. 


F.  J.  SETERENCE,  PHOTO. 


In  fields  west  of  Seminary  Bidge  between  the  Chambersburg  and  Mummasburg  Roads.    Ground  occupied 
by  Devin's  Cavalry  Brigade  at  the  commenosment  of  the  fighting  on  the  first  day. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1131 

(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

6th  new  YORK  CAVALRY 

(Ira  Harris  Guard) 

2D  BRIGADE,  1ST  DIVISION 

CAVALRY  CORPS. 

(Reverse.) 

6th  new  YORK  CAVALRY 

Regiment  at  Gettysburg. 

Arrived  June  3b,  1863.    July  i,  skirmished 

DISMOUNTED,  ON  THIS  LINE  UNTIL  ARRIVAL  OF  1ST  CORPS 

AND  THE  REST  OF  THE  DAY  ON  RIGHT  OF  THE  YoRK  ROAD,  THEN 

RETIRED   TO    CEMETERY    HiLL,    ONE   SQUADRON    BEING  AMONG   THE 

LAST  Union  troops  in  Gettysburg  on  that  day.    Bivouacked 
IN  Peach  Orchard  that  night,  and  engaged  enemy's 

SKIRMISHERS  ON  THE  MORNING  OF  JULY  2,  UNTIL  RELIEVED 

BY  TROOPS  OF  THE  3D   CoRPS.      ThEN  MOVED  TO  TaNEYTOWN 

AND  ON  THE  THIRD  TO   WESTMINISTER,   FROM  WHICH  PLACE 

MOVED  WITH  THE  DIVISION  (BuFORD's)  IN  PURSUIT  OF  THE 

ENEMY.      Met  AND  ENGAGED  THEM  JULY  8,  AT  BOONSBORO',  Md., 

holding.  that  position.    casualties;  killed  i, 
wounded  5,'  missing  i6;  total,  22, 

Regiment  organized  in  New  York  City.     Mustered 

INTO  service  September,  1861.    Re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Volunteers  at  Culpeper  Court  House,  Va,,  Dec.  i6,  1863, 

Mustered  out  of  service  June  17,  1865. ,  Total  number 

ENLISTED  1969. .  Total  casualties,  officers  34,  men  382. 

Principal  engagements. 

Barnett's  Ford,  Seven  Pines,  Fair  Oaks,  Malvern  Hill, 

Frederick,  South  Mountain,  Antietam,-  Fredericksburg,. 

Chancellorsville,  Brandy  Station,  Aldie,  Upperville, 

.Gettysburg,  Boonsboro',  WiLLiAMSPORT,  Culpeper  Court 

House,  Mine  Run,  Morton's  Ford;  Wilderness;  Todd's 

Tavern,  Spotsylvania,  Yellow  Tavern,  Sheridan's  Raid 

AROUND  Richmond,  Hawes'  Shop,  Cold  Harbor,  Trevilian 

Station,  White  House,  Deep  Bottom,  ShepherdStown, 

Front  Royalj  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill,  Cedar  Creek, 

DiNWiDDiE  C.  H.,  Appomattox  Station,  and  45  other' 

battles  and  skirmishes. 

THOMAS  C.  DEVIN. 
Brevet  Major  General    First  Colonel    6th  New  York  Cavalry 


1 1 32  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 
6th  new  YORK  CAVALRY. 

July  ll>  1889. 

Oration  of  Col.  W.  L.  Heermance. 

History  fails  to  mention  the  nation  or  people  who  are  without  remembrance 
of  those  whose  heroic  deeds  saved  them  in  the  hour  of  peril;  to  whom,  while 
living,  they  gave  all  honor,  and  after  they  were  gone,  ever  remembered  them 
in  the  traditions  of  the  country  —  and  our  country  is  not  an  exception.  To- 
day we,  the  survivors  of  those  gallant  men  who  rode  with  the  Sixth  New 
York  Cavalry  in  more  than  sixty  engagements  with  the  enemy,  between  1861 
and  1865,  meet  here  on  the  very  ground  where  twenty-six  years  ago  we 
checked  tlie  advance  of  the  enemy,  as  has  been  tersely  expressed,  "  holding 
on  like  the  devil."  We  meet  to  dedicate  this  monument  which,  in  its  inception, 
sprang  from  that  action  that  prompted  so  many  of  the  loyal  States  to  have 
erected  here  a  tribute  to  those  gallant  soldiers  who,  at  a  loss  of  20,000  men 
in  killed  and  wounded,  turned  back  the  invading  hosts,  and  the  result  of  which 
battle  settled  for  all  time  the  doctrine  of  secession,  so  that  to-day,  and  for  all 
future  years,  the  soldier  from  the  North  and  the  soldier  from  the  South  will 
join  hands  with  the  soldier  from  the  East  and  the  soldier  from  the  West,  and 
as  they  stand  under  the  flag  of  their  common  country  will  answer  to  the  roll 
call  of  each  State  "  here,"  ready  to  do  or  die  in  the  defence  of  the  Union.  And 
these  monuments  are  erected  not  only  to  record  the  valor  of  those  who  fought 
here,  but  to  commemorate  the  noble  living  and  noble  dying  of  those  who 
fought  on  other  battlefields,  but  of  whom  we  can  say. 

That  well  we  know 

When  they  heard  the  rallying  cry. 
They  were  among  the  first  to  go 

And  among  the  many  to  die. 
But  wherever  they  lie,  it  is  sweet  to  feel. 

That  their  honor  is  without  a  stain, 
That  they  only  fought  for  their  country's  weal. 

And  not  for  glory  or  gain. 

I  know  of  no  regiment  more  worthy  of  these  honors  than  ours,  whose  mem- 
bers enlisted  early  in  1861,  and,  after  serving  a  term  of  hard  service,  re-enlisted 
as  veterans  at  Culpeper  Court  House,  Va.,  December  16,  1863.  They  were 
mustered  out  of  the  service  in  June,  1865,  and  could  have  inscribed  on  their 
banner  what  you  see  on  yonder  tablet,  which  is  but  a  part  of  the  battles  they 
were  in.  Should  not  we,  who  meet  here  to-day,  recall  with  pride  the  services 
rendered  by  our  regiment  and  cherish  its  good  name  and  achievements? 

It  needs  not  this  work  of  stone  and  bronze  to  keep  fresh  in  the  memory  of 
those  of  us  who  survive,  the  gallant  deeds  of  those  whom  it  commemorates, 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1133 

whether  they  are  numbered  with  those  whose  graves  were  on  the  battlefield, 
or  in  some  obscure  spot:  whether  with  those  who  died  in  some  prison  pen,  or 
the  favored  few  who  could  reach  home  and  have  the  care  of  those  who  loved 
them  before  they  were  laid  away  in  the  quiet  churchyard  where  they  had  wan- 
dered when  boys  at  home.  The  memory  of  these  old  comrades  should  last  as 
long  as  any  of  us  survive,  and  we  should  consecrate  ourselves  this  day  to 
perpetuate  their  names  and  history. 

Other  nations  have  erected  marble  pillars  or  bronze  tablets  to  the  memory 
of  conquerors  who  forged  the  chains  of  tyranny  upon  the  people,  but'our 
country  has  fought  no  war  but  for  the  good  of  mankind.  More  than  100  years 
ago  our  forefathers  fought  for  the  right  of  self-government.  Our  country 
became  the  refuge  of  the  oppressed  of  all  nations,  and  when,  in  1861,  this  great 
inheritance  was  threatened,  the  patriotism  which  had  descended  to  us  from 
our  sires  led  us  forth  to  battle,  that  what  they  had  sacrificed  so  much  for  and 
had  bequeathed  to  us,  should  not  be  destroyed  by  those  who  had  no  reason  for 
turning  their  hand  against  their  brothers.  And  these  monuments,  scattered 
over  these  miles  of  battlefield,  bear  witness  to  the  nobility  of  those  who 
pledged  their  lives  to  maintain  the  "  Union  great,  glorious,  and  free."  And 
those  whose  memory  we  meet  here  to-day  to  honor  were  not  professional 
soldiers,  but  armed  citizens,  who,  forsaking  home,  loved  ones  and  all,  came 
forth  to  do  their  duty,  and  after  it  was  done,  returned  to  the  peaceful  pursuits 
of  life.  No  country  ever  saw  stjch  as  this  before,  and  it  should  be  the  example 
for  all  future  generations,  and  should  our  country  ever  be  threatened  by  foreign 
foe  or  the  enemy  within  our  gates,  after  we  are  gone,  they  will  be  ever  watch- 
ful to  preserve  the  integrity  of  our  government,  founded  by  the  heroes  of  the 
Revolution  and  maintained  by  those  we  meet  to-day  to  remember. 

It  is  not  necessary,  nor  is  this  the  time  or  place,  for  me  to  go  into  the  history 
of  our  regiment.  You  all  know  it  full  well.  What  is  inscribed  on  that  plate 
of  bronze  tells  but  a  small  part  of  what  it  did.  The  element  of  which  it  was 
composed  was  second  to  none  in  the  service.  It  was  of  such  men  that  did  not 
dare  to  be  cowards,  and  when  the  natural  man  would  get  the  best  of  our  better 
nature  we  were  too  proud  to  turn  our  backs  from  where  duty  called  us.  We 
were  like  the  colonel  of  infantry  who,  charging  across  the  field  at  the  head  of 
his  regiment,  where  every  step  of  his  advance  was  marked  by  dead  and  dying 
men,  saw  a  little  rabbit  scared  from  a  bush  by  his  advance,  going  to  the  rear 
and  safety,  called  out,  "  Go  it,  Molly  Cotton-tail!  If  I  had  not  a  reputation  at 
stake  I  would  be  with  you." 

While  neither  time  nor  ability  will  allow  me  to  pay  proper  tribute  to  those 
who  died  while  with  us,  I  know  that  not  one  present  here  who  knew  him,  but 
will  drop  a  silent  tear  to  the  memory  of  the  gallant  McVicar,  summoned  too 
early  in  our  term  of  service,  to  have  his  zeal  and  merit  fully  appreciated.  We 
know  that  had  he  lived,  high  rank  would  have  rewarded  his  ability  and  con- 
scientious discharge  of  duty.  That  charge  at  Chancellorsville,  where  he  fell, 
was  as  gallant  an  one  as  ever  was  made,  and  General  Fitz  Hugh  Lee  told  me 
as  he  passed  by  where  I  lay  wounded,  that  he  never  had  seen  one  equal  to 
it  in  his  service,  and  I  honor  this  Confederate  officer,  who  detailed  men  to 
make  a  coffin  and  see  that  our  brave  commander  had  a  proper  burial.    When 


1 134  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Colonel  McVicar  ordered  us  to  break  by  fours  and  cut  our  way  through  those 
who  outnumbered  us  four  to  one,  it  was  as  worthy  of  history  as  the  charge  of 
the  Six  Hundred  at  Balaklava,  and  was  only  one  of  many  equally  as  worthy, 
.which  are  not  known  or  heard  of  outside  of  those  who  took  part  in  them. 

In  thickest  fight  triumphantly  he  fell, 

While  into  victory's  arms  he  led  us  on; 
A  death  so  glorious  our  grief  should  quell. 

We  mourn  him,  yet  his  battle  crown  is  won. 

Who  will  forget  among  all  who  led  our  old  division.  General  John  Buford, 
that  noble  man  too  great  to  seek  for  glory.  He  fought  to  win,  and  when  victory 
had  perched  on  our  banner  no  more  was  heard  the  fighting  of  it  over  again  and 
seeking  of  vain  glory  through  claims  that  were  not  backed  up  by  deeds;  and 
we  can  see  him  now,  as  he  always  was,  at  the  point  of  danger  on  the  old  white 
horse,  and  we  miss  as  we  honor  noble  John  Buford,  the  perfect  type  of  an 
honest  and  true  soldier. 

Well  the  figure  on  yonder  tablet  of  bronze  calls  the  one  to  mind  who  rode 
in  all  our  campaigns  at  the  head  of  our  regiment,  or,  later,  commanding  the 
brigade  or  division;  but  even  then  never  forgetting  when  he  wanted  some  one 
to  call  on  for  hard  work,  to  order  up  the  old  Sixth.  Of  him  General  Grant 
said  to  Thurlow  Weed,  that  excepting  only  General  Sheridan,  he  was  the  best 
cavalry  officer  in  the  service.  But  we  cannot  pass  from  this  without  remember- 
ing the  soldier  who  fought  in  the  ranks  and  made  our  regiment  what  it  was. 
Coming  from  the  workshop,  the  farm  and  the  counting-house,  we  had  under 
us  such  men  as  any  officer  might  be  proud  to  command;  and  it  was  such,  in 
the  rank  and  file,  that  achieved  the  victory  and  made  our  colonels  generals. 
These  were  the  men  that  never  stopped 

"  To  make  reply, 
Theirs  not  to  reason  why. 
Theirs  but  to  do  and  die." 

And  I  can  say  for  those  of  us  who  were  officers,  that  we  never  needlessly 
sacrificed  our  men,  nor  asked  them  to  go  where  we  were  not  willing  to  lead 
them. 

History  gives  to  Gen.  John  Buford  and  the  cavalry  credit  for  holding  this 
position  at  Gettysburg  until  the  infantry  could  come  up  and  secure  all  the 
advantages  it  offered.  Had  it  not  been  held  by  us,  history  would  have  had 
another  story  to  tell  of  the  fighting  here  twenty-six  years  ago;  and  the  tide  of 
Rebellion  that  was  turned  back  then,  with  its  backbone  broken,  might  have 
gone  on  with  victory  and  had  its  object  in  seceding  accomplished.  I  see  now 
the  line  of  Confederate  infantry  skirmishers  as  they  advanced  over  that  ground 
in  1863,  on  July  ist.  ,1  commanded  the  skirmish  line,  and  advanced  over  this 
ridge  before  the  infantry  came  up.  They  were  well  on  my  right  flank,  and  it 
was  supposed  we  were  gobbled  up;  and  with  unusual  forethought  our  horses 
were  called  back  and  we  left  to  care  for  ourselves  as  best  we  could.    I  will  give 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  ii35 

you  the  report  of  General  Devin  of  the  work  of  his  brigade,  as  copied  from  the 
original,  now  in  the  Bureau  of  Military  Statistics  at  Governor's  Island. 

"  Headquarters  Second  Brig.,  First  Cav.  Division, 
"Aug.  6th,  1863. 
"  Captain : — 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the  operations  of  this 
brigade  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

"  On  the  morning  of  July  ist,  the  pickets  of  the  First  Brigade  on  the  rpad 
to  Cashtown  were  driven  in  by  a  force  advancing  from  that  direction,  and  the 
Second  Brigade  was  ordered  to  prepare  for  action  and  form  on  the  crest  of 
the  hill  on  the  right  of  the  First  Brigade.  I  immediately  formed  as  ordei^ed, 
with  my  right  resting  on  the  road  to  Mummasburg,  and  deployed  a  squadron 
of  the  Sixth  New  York  to  the  front  and  left  as  skirmishers,  dismounted,  and 
connecting  with  those  of  the  First  Brigade,  at  the  same  time  connecting  by 
skirmishers  and  videttes  with  my  pickets  on  the  three  roads  on  the  right  lead- 
ing towards  Carlisle,  thus  establishing  a  continuous  line  from  the  York  Road 
on  the  extreme  right  to  the  left  of  the  First  Brigade  on  the  Cashtown  Road. 
The  infantry  not  having  arrived  and  the  enemy's  artillery  force  increasing,  I 
was  ordered  to  retire  gradually  as  they  succeeded  in  getting  the  range  of  my 
position.  This  I  effected  in  successive  formations  in  line  to  the  rear,  by  regi- 
ment, in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  the  troops  behaving  well  and  forming  with 
perfect  coolness  and  order. 

"  About  this  time  my  skirmishers  on  the  right  were  forced  back  by  the  advance 
of  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  coming  back  from  the  direction  of  Heidlersburg. 
Knowing  the  importance  of  holding  that  point  until  the  infantry  could  arrive 
and  be  placed  in  position,  I  immediately  placed  the  Ninth  New  York  in  sup- 
port, and,  dismounting  the  rest  of  my  available  force,  succeeded  in  holding 
the  Rebel  line  in  check  for  two  hours,  until  relieved  by  the  arrival  of  the 
Eleventh  Corps,  when  I  was  ordered  to  mass  my  command  on  the  right  of 
the  York  Road  and  hold  that  approach.  While  in  that  position,  immediately 
in  front  of  the  town,  the  command,  faced  to  the  front,  and  my  pickets  on  the 
York  Road  advanced  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  a  heavy  fire  of  shells  was  opened 
on  us  from  one  of  our  own  batteries  on  Cemetery  Hill,  immediately  in  my 
rear.  The  fire  becoming  very  hot  and  persistent  and  many  of  the  shells 
bursting  among  us,  I  was  led  to  suppose  for  a  moment  that  the  enemy  had 
succeeded  in  gaining  that  position,  and  I  immediately  removed  my  command 
into  the  town,  the  column  being  shelled  the  whole  distance.  After  I  had  re- 
tired the  battery  turned  its  attention  to  my  pickets  on  the  road  and  shelled 
them  out.  I  was  then  ordered  to  the  Emmitsburg  Road,  where  the  brigade 
was  formed  in  line  in  rear  of  the  batteries  of  the  division,  with  its  right  flank 
resting  on  the  town.  The  enemy  having  gained  the  York  Road,  entered  the 
town  immediately  after  my  pickets  retired,  and  passing  through  with  their 
sharpshooters  attacked  the  flank  of  the  brigade,  killing  and  wounding  several 
men  and  horses.  I  immediately  dismounted  one  squadron  of  the  Ninth  New 
York,  who,  with  their  carbines,  drove  them  some  distance  into  the  town,  punish- 
ing them  severely.    The  brigade  was  then  ordered  to  the  extreme  left,  where 


1 136  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

it  bivouacked  for  the  night.  The  next  morningf,  July  2d,  while  I  was  engaged 
reconnoitering  in  rear  of  the  enemy's  right,  our  sharpshooters  became  engaged 
with  a  division  of  the  enemy  advancing  to  feel  our  lines  in  front  of  my 
position.  I  immediately  dismounted  and  deployed  two  squadrons  in  support  of 
Berdan's  Sharpshooters  (who  were  engaged  in  my  front),  and  formed  the 
brigade  into  line  on  the  left  of  the  First,  with  one  section  of  Tidball's  Battery 
in  position.  The  enemy  not  pressing  his  advance  and  the  Third  Corps  coming 
into  position,  we  were  ordered  to  march  to  Taneytown  where  we  bivouacked, 
and  marched  the  next  morning,  July  3d,  to  Westminster. 
"  (Signed,)  THOS.  C.  DEVIN, 

"  Col.  Comdg.  Second  Brigade." 

But,  comrades,  I  do  not  want  to  weary  you.  Too  many  in  these  days  do  the 
fighting  now  that  they  were  backward  doing  in  the  years  gone  by;  the  best 
soldier  then,  like  old  John  Buford,  did  the  least  talking.  But  we  love  our  old 
regiment  with  its  associations,  and  we  may  be  pardoned  if  our  tongues  are 
loosened  when  we  meet  those  who  drank  with  us  from  the  same  canteen 
on  the  hot  and  dusty  march,  or  rode  with  touch  of  the  knee  into  the  face  of  the 
enemy;  for,  they  were  good  and  true  men,  who  fought  in  a  righteous  cause,  and 
if  they  fell,  we  who  still  live,  will  kiss  the  passing  cup  and  drop  a  tear  to 
tbeir  memory.    As  we  grow  old  we  may  be  pardoned, 

"  If  when,  with  every  ripening  year, 

We  keep  the  harvest  home; 
And  to  the  dear  Thanksgiving  feast. 

Our  sons  and  daughters  come. 
And  the  bent  soldier  of  these  wars 

Is  seated  at  the  head, 
Long,  long  the  lads  shall  listen 

To  hear  the  grey-beard  tell, 
Of  those  who  fought  at  Gettysburg, 

And  stood  their  ground  so  well, 
'Twas  for  the  Union  and  the  Flag, — 

The  veteran  will  say, — 
Our  grand  old  cavalry  held  this  ridge 

And  kept  the  foe  at  bay." 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 

By  Surgeon  Augustus  P.  Clarke. 

The  Sixth  New  York  Cavalry,  a  regiment  that  made  one  of  the  most  credit- 
able records  for  service  during  the  late  War  of  the  Rebellion,  was  organized 
in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1861.  It  was  formed  out  of  what  was  first  known 
as  the  Ira  Harris  Guards,  a  cavalry  organization  raised  in  response  to  a  call 
for  mounted  troops  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  service  that  had  become  mani- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  ii37 

fest  by  the  operations  of  the  famous  "  Black  Horse  Cavalry  "  of  the  Confed- 
erate Army,  during  the  Bull  Run  campaign,  July,  1861.  The  regiment  was, 
in  fact,  at  first  the  protege  of  Senator  Ira  Harris,  of  New  York,  who  had  been 
instrumental  in  securing  the  authority  for  its  formation. 

The  recruiting  headquarters  were  at  No.  4  Pine  Street,  New  York  City,  and 
the  first  rendezvous  for  the  command  was  at  Camp  Herndon,  and  at  Camp  Scott, 
Staten  Island,  New  York.  Its  organization  was  completed  as  early  as  October 
24,  1861.  The  regiment  was  divided  into  three  battalions.  Thomas  C.  Devin 
was  appointed  colonel,  and  Duncan  McVicar  lieutenant  colonel.  On  Decem- 
ber 20,  1861,  the  regiment  was  ofdered  to  York,  Pa.,  where  it  was  employed  in 
building  barracks  and  stables,  and  in  the  general  work  of  receiving  instruction 
from  its  superior  officers.  On  March  6th  the  regiment  moved  to,  Perryville, 
Md.,  where  it  served  in  guarding  the  depot  and  military  stores  at  that  place. 

At  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign  of  1862,  the  Third  Battalion  (Com- 
panies B,  D,  F,  and  H),  under  command  of  Maj.  Floyd  Clarkson,  was  sent  to 
the  Peninsula,  Va.,  to  participate  in  the  operations  undertaken  by  Gen.  George 
B.  McClellan,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Second  and,  later,  to  the  Fourth  Army 
Corps.  The  writer  of  this  sketch,  who  had  been  commissioned  as  assistant 
surgeon,  accompanied  Major  Clarkson  in  this  early  field  service  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  The  other  battalions,  under  the  command  of  the  colonel  and 
their  respective  officers,  were  assigned  to  duty  under  General  Sturgis.  On 
July  15,  1862,  they  were  ordered  to  Warrenton,  Va.,  and  were  placed  under  the 
command  of  General  McDowell.  They  were  employed  in  observing  the  country 
south  of  the  Rapidan  during  the  campaign  of  General  Pope,  and  in  covering 
the  evacuation  of  Fredericksburg  and  Aquia  Creek.  On  September  4th  the 
regiment  was  employed,  while  connected  with  the  army  corps  of  General  Burn- 
side,  in  protecting  the  country  in  advance  of  the  right  wing  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  during  the  movement  on  Antietam. 

September  10  and  12,  1862,  at  the  battle  of  Frederick,  Col.  Thomas  C. 
Devin  commanded  the  regiment,  which  served  under  the  immediate  command 
of  General  Burnside.  At  the  battle  of  South  Mountain,  September  14th,  Col- 
onel Devin  commanding,  it  was  still  under  the  immediate  command  of  General 
Burnside. 

September  i6th. —  Battle  of  Sharpsburg  Turnpike,  Colonel  Devin  com- 
manding regiment,  under  command  of  General  Burnside. 

September  17th. —  Battle  of  Antietam,  Colonel  Devin  commanding  regi- 
ment on  the  left  of  Burnside's  Corps. 

October  6th. —  Battle  of  Lovettsville,  Colonel  Devin  commanding  regiment 
under  the  immediate  command  of  General  Burnside. 

October  i6th, —  Battle  at  Charlestown,  Va.,  Colonel  Devin  commanding 
regiment  under  the  immediate  command  of  General  Burnside. 

October  24th. —  Crossed  the  Potomac  and  took  position  at  Wheatland  Mills. 

October  28th, —  Moved  in  advance  of  the  Ninth  Army  Corps  to  Warrenton, 
Va.,  employed  in  observing  the  mountain  passes  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 

November  i6th. —  The  regiment  reported  to  General  Sickles,  at  Manassas 
Junction,  to  cover  movement  of  his  division  to  Fredericksburg. 

December  13th, —  Battle  of  Fredericksburg,  Va.  ^ 

72 


II 38  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

December  i6th, —  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Brigade  of 
General  Pleasanton's  cavalry  division,  and  was  employed  in  observing  the 
lower  Rappahannock,  and  in  holding  the  fords  of  the  upper  Rappahannock. 

April  29,  1863. —  Crossed  the  Rappahannock  and  Rapidan  Rivers  in  advance 
of  tjie  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

April  30th. —  Engaged  the  enemy's  infantry  at  Hunting  Creek  Run  and 
Spotsylvania  Court  House,  Va.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Duncan  McVicar  com- 
manded the  regiment,  while  Colonel  Devin  commanded  the  Second  Brigade, 
First  Cavalry  Division.  At  the  battle  of  Spotsylvania  Court  House,  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  McVicar  was  killed. 

In  order  that  one  may  comprehend  the  movements  of  the  cavalry  that  lead 
up  to  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  I  here  append  the  following  memoranda: 

The  Sixth  New  York  Cavalry  at  that  time  was  under  the  command  of  Lieut. 
Col.  William  H.  Crocker,  and  was  still  connected  with  the  Second  Brigade, 
which  was  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Devin.  The  other  regiments  of  this 
brigade  were  the  Ninth  New  York,  Col.  William  Sackett;  Seventeenth  Pennsyl- 
vania, Col.  J.  H.  Kellogg;  and  Third  West  Virginia  (detached)  Cavalry. 

May  3d, —  The  Sixth  New  York  Cavalry,  with  the  Second  Brigade,  was  en- 
gaged at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville. 

May  4th. —  Crossed  the  Rappahannock  and  encamped  near  Falmouth.  The 
regiment,  with  the  brigade,  was  employed  in  holding  the  fords  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock, from  Kelly's  Ford  to  Port  Conway. 

June  8th. —  The  regiment  with  its  brigade  and  division,  marched  to  Beverly 
Ford  on  the  Rappahannock.  It  was  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Beverly  Ford. 
From  June  loth  to  June  iSth  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  holding  the  fords 
of  the  Rappahannock. 

June  i6th. —  The  Sixth  with  the  brigade  returned  to  Bull  Run. 

June  2 1  St. —  The  regiment  engaged  Stuart's  Cavalry  at  Upperville  and 
Ashby's  Gap. 

June  22d. —  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  assist  in  holding  Haymarket;  also 
Thoroughfare  and  Hopeville  Gaps. 

June  24th. —  The  regiment  with  the  brigade  and  division  moved  (this  is  an 
important  fact  to  be  remembered)  by  Leesburg,  Poolesville,  Frederick  and 
Emmitsburg  to  Gettysburg,  which  we  reached  on  June  30th,  and  passing 
through  the  town  encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  McPherson's  Farm,  a  mile  and 
a  half  to  the  north  of  the  village. 

July  1st. —  At  daybreak  the  regiinent  engaged  the  advance  of  Hill's  Corps, 
Capt.  William  L.  Heermance  of  the  regiment  commanding  the  skirmish  line. 
At  noon  the  regiment,  with  others  of  the  brigade,  engaged  the  advance  of 
Ewell's  Corps. 

I  should  state  here  that  on  the  morning  of  July  ist  the  pickets  of  the  First 
Brigade,  on  the  road  to  Cashtown,  were  driven  in  by  a  force  advancing  from 
that  direction.  The  Second  Brigade  was  ordered  to  prepare  for  action.  The 
Sixth  New  York  was  placed  on  the  right  of  the  brigade,  on  the  road  to  Mum- 
masburg,  where  it  dismounted  and  deployed  on  foot.  At  one  time  the  Sixth 
New  York  Cavalry  was  thought  to  have  been  captured,  so  fierce  were  the 
attacks  made  by  the  enemy's  infantry  and  artillery  upon  us  before  the  army 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1139 

corps,  under  General  Reynolds,  the  vanguard  of  the  infantry  at  Gettysburg, 
had  arrived.  The  Sixth,  in  conjunction  with  other  regiments  of  the  brigade, 
made  a  good  stand  in  the  direction  of  the  Heidlersburg  Road,  and  succeeded 
in  holding  back  the  Rebel  line  until  the  arrival  of  the  Eleventh  Corps. 

July  2d, —  The  regiment  engaged  the  advance  of  Longstreet's  Corps  at  Round 
Top.  The  Confederates  appeared  to  secrete  themselves  in  every  available 
position  not  directly  exposed  to  the  Union  Hnes.  Whenever  the  effects  of  their 
deadly  aim  uncovered  their  hiding  places  the  Sixth  New  York,  with  the  other 
regiments,  was  employed  in  dislodging  them  from  their  stronghold. 

Gen.  Daniel  Butterfield,  who  was  chief  of  staff  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  at 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  has  given,  in  the  North  American  Review,  to  the 
Sixth  New  York  Cavalry  the  credit  of  making  the  first  attack  upon  the  enemy 
at  the  opening  contest  at  Gettysburg  —  on  the  morning  of  July  i,  1863.  This 
was  on  the  ground  where  Buford  Avenue,  at  the  north  of  the  town,  is  now 
laid  out,  and  precisely  where  the  beautiful  monument  of  the  Sixth  New  York 
Cavalry  has  been  erected  at  an  expense  of  upwards  of  $10,000. 

It  has  always  been  the  feeling  in  the  cavalry  that  but  for  this  attack  opened 
by  the  Sixth  New  York  upon  the  enemy's  forces,  and  thus  detaining  them 
until  our  main  army  arrived,  another  story  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  would 
be  told. 

It  deserves  to  be  mentioned  that  on  July  2  and  3,  1863,  two  companies  of 
the  Sixth  New  York,  F  and  H,  under  command  of  the  intrepid  Maj.  William 
P.  Hall,  operated  in  another  direction.  This  detachment  had  moved  up  the 
York  River,  Va.,  in  June,  1863,  under  orders  from  General  Dix,  and  had  cut 
Lee's  communication  with  Richmond.  This  movement  of  the  detachment,  with 
other  troops  sent  by  General  Dix,  had  the  effect  of  drawing  from  the  enemy 
important  forces  that  would  undoubtedly  have  been  sent  to  Lee's  assistance  at 
Gettysburg.  This  action  resulted  in  the  bringing  on  of  the  battle  of  Baltimore 
Cross  Roads,  which  was  fought  on  July  2d,  and  which,  without  doubt,  con- 
tributed directly  to  the  success  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg. 

After  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  the  regiment  served  in  connection  with  the 
brigade  and  division  in  General  Pleasanton's  Corps,  participating  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Beaver  Creek,  Funkstown,  Williamsport,  Boonsborough,  and  Falling 
Waters.  Then  crossing  the  Potomac  and  moving  by  Purcellville  and  Salem, 
it  encamped  near  Catlett's  Station.  During  the  remainder  of  the  service  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  for  that  year  (1863),  it  engaged  in  the  Rappahannock 
campaign,  including  the  battles  at  Culpeper,  Raccoon  Ford,  Stevensburg,  Mor- 
ton's Ford,  and  the  other  operations  undertaken  by  the  Cavalry  Corps  against 
the  enemy  tmtil  it  retired  to  camp  in  winter  cantonments  at  Culpeper,  Va., 
where  it  was  employed  in  guarding  the  country  between  the  Union  lines  and 
the  Blue  Ridge. 

On  June  i,  1864,  the  regiment  re-enlisted.  On  May  3d  it  crossed  the  Rapi- 
dan  and  engaged  in  the  Wilderness  campaign  under  General  Grant.  ITie 
regiment  accompanied  the  Cavalry  Corps  in  all  the  operations  undertaken  by 
General  Sheridan,  participating  in  the  famous  raid  around  Richmond  and  in  the 
battles  at  TreviUan  Station,  Winchester,  Cedar  Creek,  Fisher's  Hill,  and,  in 
fact,  in  the  whole  series  of  engagements  fought  by  Sheridan's  Cavalry  in  the 


1 140  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Valley  during  that  year,  until  December  30th,  when  it  moved  tp  Loudoun  Valley 
to  assist  in  covering  the  left  flank  of  the  army,  after  which  it  retired  to  Lovetts- 
ville  for  winter  encampment  to  observe  the  country  between  the  Potomac  and 
the  Blue  Ridge. 

At  the  battle  of  Yellow  Tavern,  Va.,  June  11,  1864,  the  time  the  Rebel  Gen- 
eral Stuart  was  killed,  the  regiment  charged  down  the  Brook  Pike  and  went 
into  and  entered  the  line  of  the  first  defences  about  Richmond,  being  the  first 
Union  regiment  to  get  so  close  to  the  Confederate  Capital. 

February  23d  and  26th,  the  regiment  resumed  its  active  operations  with  the 
First  Cavalry  Division  under  Sheridan,  and  marched  to  Winchester  and  Staun- 
ton. It  assisted  in  the  final  defeat  of  General  Early's  army,  near  Waynes- 
borough,  and  in  the  destruction  of  the  several  railroads  and  the  James  River 
Canal,  until  the  cavalry  rejoined  the  army  under  General  Grant  at  Petersburg. 
The  regiment  moved  with  the  division,  March  28th,  on  Dinwiddle  Court  House, 
and  engaged  the  enemy  in  front  of  Five  Forks,  Scott's  Cross  Roads,  Liberty 
Church,  Sailor's  Creek,  and  in  nearly  all  the  battles  until  the  surrender  at 
Appomattox,  April  9,  1865. 

Later  on,  the  regiment  accompanied  the  cavalry  under  General  Sheridan 
to  North  Carolina,  to  engage  in  a  campaign  against  Johnston's  army;  but  be- 
fore the  command  reached  the  scene  of  operations  news  was  received  of  its 
surrender. 

June  17,  1865,  the  regiment  was  consolidated  with  the  Fifteenth  New  York 
Cavalry  (Johnson's  Cavalry),  forming  the  Second  Provisional  New  York 
Cavalry,  but  was  ordered  to  be  mustered  out  of  service,  August  9th.  It  was 
retained,  however,  for  further  service  at  Elmira,  N.  Y,,  until  October  4,  1865. 

The  number  of  battles,  engagements  and  skirmishes  in  which  the  whole  or 
a  part  of  the  Sixth  New  York  Cavalry  was  engaged  is  143.  The  number  of 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing  aggregated  472.  Medals  of  Honor  have  been 
awarded  by  the  Secretary  of  War  to  four  of  the  enlisted  men. 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT, 


r.  J.  SBVERBNCE,  PHOTO. 


8th    new  YORK    CAVALRY. 

On  the  east  side  of  Reynolds  Avenue,  opposite  Reynolds  Grove. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1 141 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

8th  N.  Y.  cavalry 

1st  brigade  1st  division 

CAVALRY  CORPS. 

(Reverse.) 

Casualties 

3    KILLED 
10  WOUNDED 

21  Missing 

Pickets  of  this  regiment  were  attacked 

about  s  a.  M.,  July  i,  1863,  by  the  advance 

skirmishers  of  Heth's  Confederate  Division; 

the  regiment  engaged  the  enemy  west  of 

Seminary  Ridge,  with  the  brigade  stubbornly 

contesting  the  ground  against  great  odds 

until  about  io.3o  a.  m.,  when  it  was  relieved 

by  the  advance  regiments  of  the  1st  corps. 


1 142  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

8th  regiment  cavalry. 
June  9,   1889. 

Historical  Sketch  by  Col.  William  L.  Markell. 

On  July  22,  1861,  the  day  after  the  Bull  Run  disaster,  a  tidal  wave  of 
patriotism  rolled  over  the  entire  North  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  coast, 
leaving  its  impress  on  every  loyal  heart,  and  a  deep-seated  feeling  that  the 
Rebellion  must  be  put  down  and  the  Union  preserved  intact,  regardless  of  cost, 
of  treasure,  and  of  precious  lives.  On  that  day  two  members  of  Company  F, 
Fifty-fourth  Regiment,  New  York  State  Militia  (Rochester  City  Dragoons) 
met  on  the  street  in  Rochester,  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  conversation  turned 
on  the  subject  that  was  uppermost  in  all  minds.  Both  expressing  the  intention 
of  adding  their  mite  by  offering  their  services,  and  lives  if  necessary,  in  the 
preservation  of  the  Union,  one  suggested  the  feasibility  of  recruiting  a  regi- 
ment of  cavalry.  They  parted  to  meet  the  next  day,  and  after  a  few  meetings 
and  discussions  the  two  men  went  to  Albany  to  interview  Governor  Morgan. 
They  received  authority  from  him  to  raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry  to  serve  three 
years,  or  during  the  war.  They  returned  to  Rochester  and  immediately  opened 
a  recruiting  office.  They  secured  the  county  fair  grounds  and  buildings  for 
barracks  and  camps. 

Ten  companies  were  organized,  drilled  and  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  November  23,  1861.  November  28th,  the  regiment  left  Rochester  for 
Washington  under  command  of  Col.  Samuel  J.  Crooks,  where  it  remained  as 
part  of  the  force  in  defence  of  the  Capital  until  March  9,  1862. 

During  this  time  rumors  were  rife  that  the  military  authorities  thought  they 
were  getting  more  cavalry  than  was  needed,  and  that  a  number  of  regiments 
which  had  not  been  mounted,  would  be  disbanded  or  reorganized  as  infantry. 
Colonel  Crooks  having  resigned,  the  officers  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  if 
some  cavalry  officer  of  the  regular  army,  of  well-known  ability,  were  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  regiment  it  would  enhance  the  prospect  of  their  re- 
tention and  being  mounted.  They  unanimously  joined  in  a  request  to  General 
Stoneman,  then  in  command  of  the  cavalry,  to  recommend  some  tried  officer 
of  this  description  for  the  colonelcy,  setting  forth  the  fact  that  the  regiment 
was  composed  of  a  superior  body  of  men,  and  if  fully  equipped  and  commanded 
by  an  officer  of  well-known  skill,  it  would  be  a  credit  to  the  army  and  render 
efficient  service  to  the  country.  He  commended  their  course  and  complied 
with  the  request.  The  wisdom  of  this  action  on  the  part  of  the  officers  was 
fully  demonstrated  afterwards  by  the  glorious  career  of  the  regiment. 

March  9,  1862,  the  regiment  broke  camp  at  Washington,  and  was  placed  on 
guard  along  the  upper  Potomac  and  canal  from  Edwards  Ferry  to  Point  of 
Rocks.  April  6th,  it  was  ordered  to  Harper's  Ferry  and  guarded  the  railroad 
from  that  point  to  Winchester  until  May  24th,  the  time  of  Banks'  retreat  before 
Jackson,  when  it  fell  back  to  Harper's  Ferry.     In  anticipation  of  an  attack  on 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1143 

this  place  the  men  volunteered  for  this  occasion  to  take  muskets  and  help  defend 
the  place.  They  were  furnished  with  muskets  and  forty  rounds  of  ammunition, 
and  in  this  shape  marched  up  to  Bolivar  Heights  and  took  position  on  the 
extreme  right  of  the  line  of  battle  there  formed,  and  were  the  last  recalled 
when  the  line  was  withdrawn  the  same  night. 

They  were  then  posted  on  Maryland  Heights  where  they  were  engaged  in 
picket  duty  until  about  the  23d  of  June,  when  they  were  ordered  to  Relay- 
House,  near  Baltimore,  for  the  purpose  of  being  mounted  and  fully  equipped 
Here  they  were  joined  by  Capt.  B.  F.  Davis,  of  the  First  U.  S.  Cavalry,  who 
had  been  commissioned  as  colonel  of  the  Eighth  New  York  Cavalry  at  the 
request  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment,  upon  the  recommendation  of  General 
Stoneman.  The  regiment  remained  at  Relay  House,  the  men  drilling  assidu- 
ously until  the  fore  part  of  September,  when  they  were  ordered  to  Harper's 
Ferry,  from  which  point  they  were  daily  reconnoitering  up  to  the  night  of  the 
14th  of  September,  when  they  accomplished  their  ever  memorable  escape  from 
that  place. 

Harper's  Ferry  at  this  time  being  completely  invested  on  all  sides,  and  it 
being  a  foregone  conclusion  that  the  place  would  surrender.  Colonel  Davis 
received  the  reluctant  consent  of  Colonel  Miles,  who  was  in  command,  to 
make  the  attempt  at  saving  the  cavalry  by  withdrawing  them  and  forcing  their 
way  through  the  enemy's  lines.  Soon  after  dark  on  the  night  of  the  14th  of 
September,  the  Eighth  New  York  Cavalry,  the  Twelfth  Illinois  Cavalry  and  a 
portion  of  the  First  Maryland  Cavalry,  all  under  command  of  Colonel  Davis, 
crossed  the  pontoon  bridge  to  the  Maryland  side  of  the  Potomac  and  com- 
menced their  perilous  night  march.  A  little  before  daylight  on  the  morning  of 
the  15th,  they  captured  Longstreet's  ammunition  train  on  the  Hagerstown  Pike, 
about  three  miles  from  Williamsport,  which  they  turned  and  hurried  along  at 
a  break-neck  speed  for  Greencastle,  Pa.,  reaching  there  about  the  middle  of 
the  forenoon.  Then,  proceeding  more  leisurely,  the  train,  consisting  of  some 
75  to  80  wagons  and  some  300  horses  and  mules,  moved  on  to  Chambersburg. 
The  brigade  rested  at  Greencastle  that  night,  and  on  the  next  day  joined  Mc- 
Clellan  on  the  battlefield  of  Antietam.  Colonel  Davis  was  brevetted  major, 
U.  S.  A.,  on  the  recommendation  of  General  McClellan,  for  conspicuous  con- 
duct in  the  management  of  the  withdrawal  of  the  cavalry  from  Harper's  Ferry 
at  the  surrender  of  that  place. 

About  the  ist  of  October,  the  regiment  took  the  advance  along  with  other 
cavalry  in  pursuit  of  the  Rebel  army,  which  was  falling  back  to  the  Rappahan- 
nock River,  by  the  way  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  the  turnpike  leading 
south  on  the  west  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains.  After  crossing  the  Poto- 
mac River  at  Berlin,  the  first  engagement  in  which  the  regiment  participated 
was  at  Snickersville,  on  the  27th  day  of  October,  1862,  when  it  dashed  boldly 
up  the  Pike  leading  through  the  Gap.  It  had  barely  covered  a  quarter  of  the 
distance  to  the  Gap  when  a  concealed  battery  opened  on  them  with  canister 
and  compelled  them  to  fall  back,  which  they  did  in  good  order. 

Then  came  in  rapid  succession  the  engagements  at  Philomont,  Unionville, 
Upperville,  Barbee's  Cross  Roads,  Sulphur  Springs,  Amissville,  Corbin's  Cross 
Roads  and  Jefferson.    Those  of  Philomont,  Unionville,  Upperville,  Amissville 


1 144  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

and  Jefferson  were  sharp  skirmishes  in  which  the  regiment  lost  quite  largely 
in  killed  and  wounded;  while  that  at  Barbee's  Cross  Roads  was  a  savage  one 
while  it  lasted,  and  first  gave  the  regiment  that  confidence  in  itself  which  it 
afterwards  maintained  to  the  close  of  the  war.  It  was  the  first'  fair  charge 
of  cavalry  against  cavalry  of  any  magnitude  in  which  it  had  engaged,  and  the 
enemy  was  completely  routed.  On  this  field  the  writer  saw  for  the  first  time 
the  corpse  of  a  cavalryman,  killed  with  a  sabre. 

A  part  of  the  regiment  was  dismounted  and  sent  ahead  to  skirmish  and  dis- 
lodge a  portion  of  the  Rebels  who  were  also  fighting  dismounted  and  endeavor- 
ing to  hold  our  advance  in  check.  While  our  dismounted  men  were  skirmish- 
ing behind  a  stone  wall,  Colonel  Davis  led  the  remainder  over  a  small  knoll  and 
formed  them  in  a  hollow,  out  of  sight  of  the  enemy.  They  were  but  just 
formed  when  a  large  regiment  of  Rebel  cavalry  came  charging  down  upon 
them.  Before  the  Rebels  had  reached  the  brow  of  the  knoll  the  command, 
"  Charge  1  "  was  given,  and  in  a  moment  that  mounted  part  of  the  regiment 
charged  so  unexpectedly  and  so  impetuously  that  the  enemy  broke  and  fled 
in  the  wildest  disorder,  leaving  many  of  their  number  in  our  hands,  dead, 
wounded,  or  prisoners.  An  extract  from  General  McClellan's  report  of  this 
engagement  reads :  "  A  largely  superior  force  charged  Colonel  Davis'  Eighth 
New  York  Cavalry,  but  were  gallantly  met  and  repulsed." 

At  Jefferson  the  regiment  participated  in  its  last  engagement  for  the  year 
1862.  The  weather  was  growing  quite  cold,  and  the  men  were  not  as  yet 
furnished  with  shelter  tents.  They  were  obliged  to  He  out  all  night  on  the 
damp  ground,  and  nearly  all  the  time  were  denied  the  privilege  of  fire.  Their 
sufferings  were  not  inconsiderable._  But  they  were  made  happy  by  being 
ordered  into  regular  camp  at  Belle  Plain,  from  where  they  were  sent  at  in- 
tervals to  do  picket  duty  on  the  Rappahannock  River,  which  formed  the  divid- 
ing line  between  the  two  armies. 

At  an  early  date  in  1863,  active  operations  again  began  on  the  part  of  the 
regiment,  which  had  been  strengthened  by  the  addition  of  three  new  companies, 
recruited  at  Rochester  by  Maj.  William  H.  Benjamin  during  August,  Septem- 
ber and  October,  1862,  he  having  been  detailed  from  the  regiment  for  this  duty. 
Up  to  June  9,  1863,  the  day  of  the  cavalry  fight  at  Beverly  Ford,  the  Eighth 
Cavalry  had  participated  in  fourteen  different  engagements  of  more  or  less 
importance,  losing  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  about  50  men,  the  greater 
part  of  the  losses  occurring  at  Independence  Hill,  March  4th,  and  Freeman's 
Ford,  April  15th.  At  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  they  were 
engaged  several  days  in  operations  around  the  right  flank  of  our  own  and  the 
left  flank  of  the  Rebel  army,  coming  inside  of  our  line  over  the  breastworks  on 
the  extreme  right  a  little  before  sunset  May  4th,  and  that  night  fell  back  with 
the  main  body  of  the  army. 

The  great  cavalry  battle  at  Beverly  Ford,  June  9,  1863,  deserves  special  men- 
tion. In  this  battle  the  regiment  took  the  leading  part,  and  lost  more  men  in 
killed  and  wounded  than  any  other  regiment  engaged.  Before  it  was  fairly 
light  they  dashed  across  the  Ford  and  into  the  very  midst  of  the  Rebel  camps. 
During  the  whole  fight  the  Eighth  was  in  the  thickest  of  it,  winning  much 
glory,  but  at  the  expense  t)f  many  gallant  officers  and  men.     It  was  here,  and 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1145 

in  the  first  dash,  that  the  gallant  Colonel  Davis  fell  mortally  wounded  at  the 
head  of  his  regiment.  His  loss  was  deeply  deplored,  not  by  his  own  regiment 
alone,  but  by  the  entire  cavalry  corps.  Lieut.  Col.  William  L.  Markell  was 
promoted  to  the  vacancy,  and  became  colonel  of  the  regiment.  From  Beverly 
Ford  to  Gettysburg  the  regiment  was  marching  and  skirmishing  almost  daily. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  June  30th,  the  regiment,  leading  the  advance  of 
the  First  Brigade,  First  Division,  Cavalry  Corps,  entered  Gettysburg, 
passed  through  the  town,  and  bivouacked  near  the  Seminary  in  an  open 
field  on  the  left  of  the  Cashtown  Pike,  from  which  one  squadron  advancing 
about  a  mile  established  a  picket  line  across  and  on  both  sides  of  the  Cashtown 
Road.  About  7  o'clock  on  the  next  morning,  July  ist,  the  officer  commanding 
the  squadron  on  picket  gave  notice  tliat  the  enemy  in  strong  force  was  ad- 
vancing on  his  pickets  from  the  direction  of  Cashtown.  The  brigade  was 
formed  in  line  of  battle  as  soon  as  possible  about  a  mile  in  front  of  the  Semi- 
nary, and  three  squadrons  deployed  as  skirmishers  were  advanced  to  the 
support  of  the  picket  line  now  being  driven  back  by  the  enemy. 

The  fighting  soon  became  general  and  sharp  along  the  whole  line,  our 
skirmishers  stubbornly  resisting  every  inch  of  the  enemy's  advance  although 
the  Confederates  were  there  in  overpowering  numbers.  In  a  short  time  the 
hne  was  compelled  to  fall  back  to  the  next  ridge,  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
in  the  rear.  The  skirmishers  fighting  stubbornly  in  the  meantime  behind  fences 
and  trees,  and  our  artillery  doing  good  execution,  the  advance  of  the  enemy 
was  retarded,  and  this  line  was  maintained  until  about  10  o'clock,  when  the 
First  Corps,  the  advance  of  our  infantry,  came  up  and  relieved  the  Cavalry 
Brigade  in  its  unequal  contest  with  the  enemy.  When  we  consider  that  two 
divisions  of  Hill's  Corps  were  held  in  check  for  three  hours  by  so  small  a 
cavalry  force,  it  becomes  unnecessary  to  say  anything  more  about  their  gal- 
lantry and  fighting  qualities.  The  regimental  monument  of  the  Eighth  New 
York  now  stands  on  the  spot  the  regiment  occupied  when  relieved  by  the  First 
Corps,  on  what  is  now  known  as  Reynolds  Avenue,  and  a  few  rods  in  rear  of 
the  spot  where  General  Reynolds  was  killed. 

In  the  afternoon  the  enemy,  being  strongly  reinforced,  extended  his  flanks, 
and  made  a  desperate  attempt  to  turn  our  left.  They  advanced  in  three  strong 
lines,  when  our  brigade  was  ordered  forward  at  a  trot  and  deployed.  Half  of 
the  command  was  dismounted  and  placed  behind  a  portion  of  a  stone  wall  on 
a  ridge  of  woods,  with  the  Seminary  on  our  right.  The  enemy  being  close 
upon  us  we  opened  an  effective,  rapid  fire  with  our  breech-loading  carbines, 
which  killed  and  wounded  so  many  of  their  first  line,  that  after  a  short  heroic 
struggle  to  continue  the  advance,  they  could  stand  it  no  longer  and  fell  back 
on  the  second  line.  Our  men  kept  up  the  fire  until  the  enemy,  in  overwhelm- 
ing numbers,  approached  so  near  that  in  order  to  save  our  men  and  horses  we 
were  obliged  to  mount  and  fall  back  rapidly  to  the  next  ridge,  carrying  our 
wounded  with  us.  The  stand  we  there  made  against  the  enemy  prevented  our 
left  flank  from  being  turned,  and  saved  a  division  of  our  infantry. 

After  Gettysburg,  while  Lee  was  falling  back  towards  Richmond,  our  ex- 
perience was  a  repetition  of  that  after  the  Antietam  battle,  except  that  the 
engagements  were  more  frequent  and  severe.      Hanging  on   to   Lee's  flank, 


1 146  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

watching  every  opportunity  to  harass  and  punish  his  retreating  troops,  we  were 
marching  and  fighting  almost  daily.  From  Gettysburg,  until  the  last  of  No- 
vember, when  the  active  campaign  was  closed  and  camp  established  near  Cul- 
peper,  the  regiment  participated  in  twenty-six  different  engagements,  some  of 
which  were  mere  skirmishes  and  others  were  quite  severe  cavalry  fights,  losing 
in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  during  the  time  mentioned  somewhere  over 
150  men.  On  February  27,  1864,  Colonel  Markell  resigned,  and  Lieut.  Col. 
William  H.  Benjamin  succeeded  to  the  command.  In  due  time  he  was  com- 
missioned colonel. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  year  1864,  to  the  time  of  the  battles  of  the  Wilder- 
ness, the  regiment  took  part  in  only  two  engagements;  but  from  that  time  on 
the  predictions  of  a  lively  campaign  were  verified,  and  a  day  passed  without  a 
fight  of  more  or  less  severity  was  the  exception;  the  regiment  distinguished 
itself  by  many  gallant  acts.  During  March,  1864,  the  regiment  which  had  up 
to  that  time  been  in  the  First  Division,  Cavalry  Corps,  A.  P.,  became  a  part 
of  the  Second  Brigade  of  the  Third  Division.  The  regiment  accompanied 
Sheridan  cm  the  great  raid  at  Richmond,  and  took  an  active  part  in  nearly 
every  engagement.  After  the  raid,  it  was  in  three  quite  severe  engagements, 
in  one  of  which,  at  Hawes  Shop,  Colonel  Benjamin,  while  gallantly  leading  the 
regiment,  was  wounded. 

The  Eighth  went  to  Petersburg,  and  did  picket  duty  in  the  vicinity  of  Prince 
George  Court  House  until  the  date  of  General  Wilson's  raid.  Accompanying 
the  raid  the  regiment  lost  heavily, —  on  June  22d,  cutting  their  way  through 
the  Rebel  right  at  Reams'  Station,  on  the  23d,  at  Black  and  Whites,  to  near 
Nottoway  Court  House,  where  the  brigade  being  cut  off  from  the  main  com- 
mand had  an  afternoon  and  all  night's  battle,  sustaining  a  loss  of  90  men.  On 
the  24th,  it  succeeded  in  joining  the  command  at  Meherrin  Station,  on  the 
Dansville  Railroad;  on  the  25th,  to  Roanoke  Creek;  and  at  night,  to  Staunton 
River;  27th,  to  Meherrin  River;  28th,  to  Stony  Creek  Station,  on  the  Weldon 
Railroad,  in  rear  of  the  Rebel  lines,  where  all  the  afternoon  and  night  they 
were  trying  to  cut  their  way  through,  but  were  again  headed  off  by  the  enemy 
and  forced  to  make  their  way  back  south  nearly  to  the  North  Carolina  line.  After 
enduring  untold  hardships,  they  at  last  found  their  way  into  the  Union  lines, 
the  regiment  losing  nearly  one-third  of  its  number. 

August  8th,  the  regiment  was  shipped  to  Washington  and  proceeded  to  Win- 
chester, in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  where  they  were  prominent  in  all  the  gal- 
lant engagements  under  Sheridan,  in  which  the  Eighth  won  special  mention 
from  both  the  division  and  corps  commanders. 

On  October  29th,  the  expiration  of  its  term  of  enlistment,  those  entitled 
thereto  were  ordered  to  Rochester  to  be  discharged  and  mustered  out.  Many 
of  the  men  and  officers  re-enlisted,  and  together  with  those  whose  term  had 
not  expired  were  consolidated  into  a  battalion  of  eight  companies  and  retained 
in  the  service.  April  30,  1865,  four  new  companies  were  formed  of  recruits 
mustered  in  for  one  and  two  years,  and  the  regimental  organization  was  again 
completed.  Lieut.  Col.  Edmund  M.  Pope,  original  captain  of  Company  A, 
was  commissioned  colonel,  February  14th,  and  he  ably  commanded  the  regi- 
ment until  the  close  of  the  war. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  ii47 

On  the  27th  of  February,  1865,  the  regiment  was  on  the  march  southward 
from  Winchester,  and  on  March  2d,  encountering  the  enemy  in  force  at  Waynes- 
borough  under  General  Early,  a  sharp  battle  ensued,  resulting  in  a  signal  victory 
for  our  side,  leaving  in  our  hands  about  1,500  prisoners,  5  pieces  of  artillery, 
and  10  battle  Rags.  Major  Compson,  who  commanded  the  regiment  in  this 
engagement,  was  awarded  a  Medal  of  Honor  for  the  capture  of  a  battle  flag. 
The  Waynesborough  affair  over,  the  march  to  Petersburg  was  continued,  and 
the  command  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  last  and  effective  campaign  of 
the  war. 

This  regiment  received  the  flag  of  truce  sent  in  by  General  Lee  at  Appomat- 
tox, June  9,  1865.  During  its  term  of  service  it  lost  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
missing,  794  men;  participated  in  over  100  engagements;  and  earned  its  envi- 
able reputation  on  many  a  hard-fought  field.  But  few  regiments  in  the  service 
have  furnished  as  bright  a  page  for  history  as  the  Eighth  New  York  Volunteer 
Cavalry. 

The  following-named  officers  were  killed  while  gallantly  fighting  in  the  ranks 
of  the  regim.ent : 

Col.  Benjamin  F.  Davis,  at  Beverly  Ford,  Va. 

Capt.  Benjamin  F.  Foote,  "  Beverly  Ford,  Va. 

Lieut.  Henry  C.  Cutler,  "  Beverly  Ford,  Va. 

Lieut.  Benjamin  C.  Efner,  "  Beverly  Ford,  Va. 

Lieut.  James  E.  Reeves,  "  Beverly  Ford,  Va. 

Capt.  Charles  D.  Follett,  "  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Capt.  James  McNair,  "  Nottoway  Court  House. 

Capt.  James  A.  Sayles,  "  Nottoway  Court  House. 

Capt.  Asa  L.  Goodrich,  "  Namozine  Church. 

Lieut.  Richard  S.  Taylor,  "  Strawberry  Hill. 

Lieut.  Carlos  S.  Smith,  "  Broad  Run. 

Lieut.  Benjamin  F.  Chappell,  "  Five  Forks. 

If  space  would  permit,  mention  should  be  made  also  of  the  many  enlisted 
men  and  non-commissioned  officers  who  met  heroic  deaths  on  the  battlefield. 
Heroes  all. 


1 148  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

9th   new  YORK  CAVALRY 

2d  brig.    1st  DIV.    cavalry  CORPS 

"  Discovering  the  enemy  ". 

(Reverse.) 

9th  new  YORK  CAVALRY 

Enlisted,  October  i,  1861.    Re-enlisted,  Jan.  2,  1864. 

Mustered  out,  July  17,  1865.    Total  enlistment  among 

which  losses  occurred,  1,981.    Losses  during  service: 

Killed  in  action,  63;  died  of  wounds,  32;  others 

wounded,  270;  died  while  prisoners,  16;  others  captured 

125.    Battle  losses,  506;  killed  accidentally,  3;  died 

OF  disease,  1 10.    Aggregate  losses,  619. 

Battles  and  skirmishes,  141.    Battle  flags  captured,  5. 

Principal  Engagements. 

Williamsburg,  Pope's  Campaign,  Beverly  Ford,  Ashby's  Gap, 
Gettysburg,  Williamsport,  Brandy  Station,  Wilderness, 

Yellow  Tavern,  Meadow  Bridge,  Cold  Harbor,  Trevilian 
Station,  Deep  Bottom,  Smithfield,  Leetown,  Winchester, 

Port  Republic,  Tom's  Brook,  Cedar  Creek,  Gordonsville,' 

Waynesboro,  Dinwiddie  C.  H.,  Five  Forks,  Sailor's  Creek, 

Appomattox. 

(Around  border  of  bronze  medallion) 

Col.  William  Sackett,  commanding  regiment,  killed  at 

Trevilian  Station,  Va.,  June  ii,  1864. 

Position  8  A.  M.,  July  i,  1863. 

Picket  on  Chambersburg  Road, 

Fired  on  at  5  A.  M. 


J.  B.  LYON  PBIHT. 


9th    new   YORK   CAVALRY. 
On  Buford  Avenue,  west  of  Seminary  Ridge,  and  south  of  the  Mummasburg  Road. 


F.  J.  SEVERENCE,    PHOTO. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  i.I49 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

9th  regiment  cavalry— "westfield  cavalry." 

July  I,  1888. 

Address  by  Lieut.  Col.  Wilber  G.  Bentley. 
Dear  Comrades: 

We  meet  again  to-day  after  a  lapse  of  twenty-five  years,  upon  the  battlefield 
of  Gettysburg,  made  more  memorable  than  any  spot  of  historic  interest  in  the 
world.  We  meet  to  take  part  in  the  reunion  of  the  survivors  of  that  grand 
old  army,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  We  meet  as  the  survivors  of  a  regiment 
that  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  history  of  the  war;  a  regiment  whose  record 
we  are  proud  of,  and  one  whose  name  will  go  down  into  history,  and  whose 
deeds  will  be  remembered  by  a  grateful  people  long  after  we  are  laid  at  rest, — 
The  Ninth  New  York  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

In  these  reunions  we  are  all  aglow  with  love  of  country,  proud  of  our  success 
and  the  results  accomplished;  but  we  also  meet  to  dedicate  a  monument  to  the 
brave  men  who  were  called  in  the  great  sacrifice  to  lay  down  their  lives.  This 
service  is  tinged  with  sorrow,  and  calls  out  from  our  hearts  the  tenderest  and 
best  feelings  of  our  nature.  We  rear  this  monument  and  dedicate  it  to  the  • 
world,  that  it  may  stand  here  for  the  ages,  to  bear  its  witness  to  the  faithful 
service  and  the  terrible  sacrifice  that  was  made  to  perpetuate  a  government 
whose  benign  influences  provide  for  its  subjects  as  no  other  government  under 
the  sun  has  done.  The  youngest  among  nations,  it  had  struggled  in  the  early 
days  of  the  Revolution  to  establish  the  broad  principle  in  the  world  of  equal 
rights  among  all  its  citizens.  The  fact  accomplished,  for  long  years  it  had  been 
at  peace,  with  only  here  and  there  a  slight  disturbance,  in  the  War  of  1812  and 
the  Mexican  War  of  1846.  The  latter  was  so  far  removed  from  the  centre  of 
our  civilization  that  it  made  but  a  slight  impression  upon  the  people,  so  that 
for  nearly  half  a  century  the  people  had  known  nothing  of  war.  Out  of  its 
30,000,000  of  people,  only  here  and  there  was  a  man  to  be  found  who  had 
ever  even  studied  the  art  of  war  or  who  had  ever  seen  or  experienced  the 
shock  of  battle. 

We  had  no  menace  from  foreign  nations.  A  few  men  who  were  dis- 
satisfied with  the  government,  who  had  undertaken  to  secede  in  1832  because 
the  government  would  not  grant  free  trade  and  expose  its  citizens  to  competi- 
tion with  all  the  manufactories  of  Europe, — these  men  and  their  followers 
continued  their  agitation,  gaining  in  power  until  they  had  well  nigh  bank- 
rupted the  country.  But  Northern  men,  reared  and  engaged  in  the 
midst  of  peaceful  avocations,  never  dreamed  that  these  agitators  would 
influence  any  considerable  body  of  men  to  raise  their  hands  in  rebellion. 
But,  alas,  we  were  destined  to  be  awakened  from  this  blissful  dream  of  peace, 
and  early  in  1861,  it  became  evident  that  a  large  number  of  the  Southern 
States  were  determined  to  break  off  their  allegiance  to  the  government  and 
to  set  up  another  one  hostile  to  it;  and  yet,  after  the  first  acts  of  secession 


1 1 50  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

on  the  part  of  some  of  these  States,  the  great  masses  still  believed  that  time 
would  dissuade  them  from  their  mad  resolutions,  and  that  they  would  hesitate 
to  engulf  the  country  in  a  causeless  and  bloody  strife. 

The  sainted  Lincoln,  upon  his  inauguration  as  president  of  the  country, 
pleaded  with  them  with  all  the  tenderness  that  a  mother  would  plead  with  her 
wayward  child.  History  has  never  produced  another  sovereign,  and  probably 
never  will,  who,  clothed  with  power  as  the  chief  executive  of  the  nation, 
would  turn  aside  and  appeal  personally  to  their  love  of  country,  to  their  pa- 
triotism, and  for  the  cause  of  humanity,  as  did  this  noble  president  to  the 
erring  people  of  the  South;  but  the  active  spirits  of  the  Rebellion  turned  a 
deaf  ear  to  every  entreaty.  They  resorted  to  every  means  to  prejudice  and  fire 
the  hearts  of  their  people.  They  plainly  saw  that  such  appeals  as  the  president 
was  making  must  reach  the  better  nature  and  good  sense  of  the  masses,  and 
that  if  they  accomplished  their  object,  it  must  be  done  by  having  war  declared 
and  hostilities  commenced;  and  so,  without  any  excuse  in  the  world,  the  attack 
upon  Fort  Sumter  was  ordered.  They  believed  that  if  a  blow  was  struck  it 
would  make  their  people  of  one  accord,  and  they  professed  further  to  believe 
that  the  North  would  plainly  submit  and  allow  the  government  to  be  strangled. 
If  these  professions  were  honest,  how  little  they  knew  of  the  temper  of  the 
American  people,  or  the  measure  of  patriotism  that  was  latent  among  them. 

When  the  first  gun  was  fired  by  traitors'  hands,  the  flash  of  its  light  per- 
meated to  every  hamlet  and  home,  and  the  shot  that  went  crashing  through 
the  walls  of  Sumter  did  far  more;  it  reached  the  hearts  and  home  of  every 
patriot.  This  blow  stunned  and  staggered,  but  the  reaction  came  at  once. 
Men  who  shuddered  at  the  thought  of  war,  who  had  never,  perhaps,  seriously 
asked  themselves  how  much  they  loved  their  country,  laid  aside  at  once  every 
consideration,  and  offered  their  services  and  their  lives  upon  the  altar  of  their 
country.  Loving  wives,  mothers,  sisters,  and  sweethearts,  at  once  became 
Spartans,  and  with  one  fond  embrace  and  with  the  seal  of  their  kisses  fresh  upon 
the  lips  of  their  loved  ones,  bade  them  go  and  with  might  and  main  defend  the 
emblem  of  freedom,  the  flag  of  their  country. 

Thus  the  strife  was  commenced  and  the  best  government  the  world  had  ever 
known,  was  confronted  with  an  organized  rebellion.  As  we  glance  back  over 
the  pages  of  history,  it  seems  strange,  indeed,  that  all  this  could  have  been 
accomplished  and  the  government  not  have  taken  the  alarm  and  made  some 
preparations  to  meet  it.  The  executive  department  of  the  government  was 
aware  of  the  facts.  The  masses  were  not.  It  was  possible  because  the  president, 
honest  perhaps  at  heart,  but  weak  in  purpose,  had  allowed  a  traitorous  cabinet 
to  rob  the  treasury,  steal  the  entire  equipment  of  the  army  and  navy,  and 
place  them  at  the  service  of  the  Rebel  government.  When  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  inaugurated  president  and  took  the  reins  of  government,  he  found  an 
empty  treasury  and  no  munitions  of  war,  and  his  call  was  to  the  loyal  citizens 
to  come  to  the  rescue. 

My  dear  comrades,  it  was  amid  the  stirring  scenes  of  war  in  the  summer 
and  autumn  of  1861.  that  the  Ninth  New  York  Cavalry  was  born.  The  call 
came  into  our  homes  and  appealed  to  our  consciences  and  love  of  country. 
We  made  the  decision  between  the  call  of  duty  on  the  one  hand  and  all  that 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1151 

we  loved  dear  in  our  hbmes  on  the  other;  and  I  desire  to  bear  record  to-day, 
that  no  better,  braver  or  truer  men  ever  went  to  battle  than  the  men  who 
comprised  the  officers,  rank  and  file  of  our  beloved  regiment. 

In  calling  the  roll  of  the  honored  dead,  it  would  afiford  us  great  pleasure  to 
make  mention  personally  of  each  one  of  them.  We  could  have  no  more 
grateful  task  assigned  to  us  than  to  eulogize  the  names  of  these  heroic  men, 
whose  names  and  deeds  are  fresh  in  your  memories;  but  there  are  so  many 
that  it  is  impossible  to  name  them  all,  and  it  would  be  invidious  to  name  any 
one  or  nrore  of  them  and  leave  others  unnamed,  for  as  they  oifered  their  lives 
and  we  laid  them  away  to  rest  there  were  no  distinctions.  The  crown  of  glory 
of  him  who  laid  down  his  life  is  as  bright  whether  he  went  from  the  field  and 
staff,  or  line,  or  from  the  ranks.  Whatever  the  position  of  authority  with 
which  he  was  clothed,  it  was  only  that  he  might  do  his  whole  duty,  and  every 
man  who  did  that  and  gave  up  his  life,  did  all  that  mortal  man  could  do. 

The  regiment  was  not  organized  in  time  to  become  engaged  in  any  of  the 
battles  of  1861.  We  passed  through,  however,  in  camp  life  and  in  drill,  our 
preparation  for  the  war,  and  it  will  be  remembered  by  you,  that  during  the 
first  exposure  of  camp  near  Washington,  we  lost  as  many  men  as  in  any  given 
time  during  our  service,  yet  our  real  duties  commenced  in  the  spring  of  1862. 

I  think  it  will  be  of  interest  to  every  member  of  our  regiment  to  have  on 
record  here  briefly,  the  history  of  our  organization  and  more  especially  the  list 
of  battles  in  which  the  regiment  took  part. 

We  regret  exceedingly  that  we  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  accurately, 
the  number  of  killed  and  wounded,  as  the  muster-rolls  on  file  with  the  Adjutant 
General  show  evidence  of  not  having  been  carefully  kept.  The  Adjutant  Gen- 
eral's office  at  Albany  records  the  number  of  dead  as  13  officers  and  210  en- 
listed men.  There  may  have  been  more;  and  there  is  no  record  of  the  number 
of  men  wounded,  but  as  the  number  wounded  is  generally  about  four  or  five 
times  as  many  as  the  killed,  we  must  have  had  in  killed  and  wounded,  up- 
wards of  1,000  men. 

As  you  all  know,  the  cavalry  were  the  eyes  of  the  army;  without  them,  the 
commanding  general  could  have  known  but  little  of  the  movements  of  the 
enemy.  They  were  usually  the  first  engaged,  and  at  this  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
General  Hunt,  Chief  of  Artillery,  puts  upon  record  this  fact:  That  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg  was  opened  by  cavalry  in  one  of  its  hard-fought  battles,  on  the 
morning  of  July  ist,  by  General  Buford's  Division,  of  which  we  were  a  part, 
and  that  it  was  closed  on  July  3d  by  another  terrible  conflict  of  the  cavalry,  at 
the  right  of  Gulp's  Hill,  by  the  division  under  the  command  of  General  Gregg. 

Not  many  regiments  offered  themselves  in  battle  as  often  as  did  the  Ninth 
New  York  Cavalry.  It  was  our  lot  to  be  actively  engaged  in  the  field  from 
the  time  we  entered  the  first  campaign,  in  the  spring  of  1862,  until  Lee's  sur- 
render at  Appomattox,  April  9,  1865.  Including  the  winter  months  and  all 
the  time  spent  in  camp,  we  were  actually  engaged  in  battle,  on  an  average,  once 
a  week,  and  often,  during  the  summer  campaigns,  every  day  in  the  week,  as 
a  glance  at  the  Ust  will  show. 

However  enthusiastically  we  may  speak  of  the  glory  of  our  own  regiment, 
yfe  would  not  detract  from  the  honor  due  to  any  and  all  regiments  that  took 


II52 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


part  in  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion.  Every  man  who  performed  the 
service  demanded  of  him,  is  entitled  to  his  full  share  of  credit  in  suppressing  the 
most  causeless  and  wicked  rebelHon  known  to  history;  but  the  Ninth  New 
York  was  pressed  close  against  the  enemy,  and  their  marches  across  the  States 
of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  were  marked  by  the  trail  of  blood. 
There  is  hardly  a  county  from  Gettysburg  on  the  north  to  Appomattox  on  the 
south,  the  soil  of  which  has  not  been  enriched  by  the  life  blood  of  our  killed 
and  wounded. 

It  has  been  stated  that  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  suffered  more  defeats  than 
it  gained  victories.  I  am  not  prepared  to  admit  that  this  is  true.  But,  in  com- 
paring the  prowess  of  the  armies  on  either  side,  or  their  commanders,  it  must 
not  be  forgotten  that  the  enemy  were  for  the  most  part  acting  on  the  defensive, 
and  that  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  the  attacking  party;  and  it  would  have 
been  strange,  indeed,  if  the  army  attacking  was  not  frequently  repulsed.  How- 
ever much  the  Confederate  army  may  be  praised  for  their  stubborn  bravery 
in  defence,  with  all  the  natural  defences  at  their  command,  and  of  which  they 
made  the  most,  one  thing  is  certain:  whenever  they  left  their  intrenchments 
and  undertook  to  make  an  advance  they  were  severely  defeated  and  sent  back 
with  trailing  banners  to  their  defences,  and  even  these  did  not  avail  them. 
Pressed  upon  every  hand  they  were  driven  from  their  strongest  position,  over 
mountains,  through  marshes,  and  across  sluggish  streams  until  at  last  they 
surrendered  at  Appomattox. 

This  beautiful  monument,  which  has  been  erected  as  a  memento  to  our 
heroic  dead,  evinces  a  recognition  from  the  great  Commonwealth  in  which  we 
live,  in  the  fund  that  they  appropriated  towards  its  cost;  but  the  fund  raised 
by  your  personal  subscriptions,  which  has  also  entered  into  its  cost,  is  evidence 
of  the  tender  love  and  sympathy  with  which  their  memories  are  retained  by  us 
as  comrades. 

It  is  remarkable  at  least  that  after  a  lapse  of  so  many  years,  so  many  of  us 
are  permitted  to  stand  here  upon  this  ground  where  we  fought  twenty-five  years 
ago.  Well  do  we  remember  that  beautiful  summer  morning,  July  1st,  1863. 
The  sun  rose  in  its  splendor  and  brilliancy  as  if  it  was  ushering  in  another  day 
of  peace  to  the  honest  yeomanry,  who  for  years  had  lived  in  quietude  in  this 
beautiful  valley.  The  waving  fields  of  grain,  giving  such  promise  of  a  beauti- 
ful harvest,  waved  back  their  welcome,  unconscious  that  in  a  few  hours  they 
were  to  be  trampled  under  the  feet  of  men  and  horses  as  they  rushed  to  the 
conflict  of  battle.  The  sun-kissed  hills  reflected  back  the  brilliant  orb  of  day, 
and  stood  in  their  silent  grandeur,  giving  no  sign  of  the  armies  who  at  that  very 
moment  were  preparing  for  the  conflict  under  cover  of  the  beautiful  forests 
that  spread  about  their  base. 

The  Confederate  army  had  mustered  every  available  man,  and  under  the 
leadership  of  their  idolized  commander,  flushed  with  victory  and  confident  of 
success,  had  invaded  loyal  territory,  determined  to  make  the  North  feel  the 
hand  of  war's  devastation,  leaving  behind  them  the  wasted  and  deserted  fields 
of  Virginia,  which  the  contending  armies  had  made  so  desolate,  invigorated 
by  the  pure  air  of  the  mountains  and  by  the  sight  of  prosperous  homes,  and 
entertaining  the  hope  that  a  victory  on  loyal  soil  would  bring  to  their  assistance 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1153 

that  element  in  Northern  society  which,  for  want  of  a  better  name,  was  called 
"  Copperhead,"  an  element  that  from  first  to  last  had  proffered  them  their 
sympathy,  and  that  had  hampered  the  movement  of  the  Union  armies  almost 
as  much  as  the  Confederates  in  our  front. 

With  all  these  elements  to  inspire  them,  the  Confederate  army  was  un- 
doubtedly at  its  best.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  been  severely  handicapped 
by  the  authorities  in  Washington,  who  insisted  that  no  matter  what  course 
was  taken  by  the  Confederate  army,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  must  remain 
between  it  and  Washington,  and  so  we  were  compelled  to  lie  along  the  base 
of  the  mountains,  guarding  all  avenues  from  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  until 
General  Lee  had  solidified  his  army  in  the  heart  of  Pennsylvania,  and  when 
our  division  of  cavalry  under  General  Buford  reached  Gettysburg  on  the 
evening  of  June  30th,  the  rear  of  our  army  was  thirty  miles  away. 

On  the  evening  of  June  30th,  you  will  remember  that  our  regiment  was 
placed  on  picket  on  the  several  roads  running  in  a  northerly  direction  from 
Gettysburg,  our  Une  extending  from  the  Chambersburg  Pike,  across  the  Mum- 
masburg  Road,  Carlisle  Road,  the  road  leading  to  Hunterstown,  and  Harris- 
burg  Road.  A{  one  of  tiiese  vidette  posts,  situated  on  the  Chambersburg  Pike, 
early  on  the  morning  of  July  ist,  at  about  5  o'clock,  a.  m.,  the  Confederates  were 
seen  approaching;  and  Corp.  Alpheus  Hodges  of  Company  F,  who  had 
command  of  the  picket,  sent  word  back  to  the  reserves.  Advancing  in  the 
road  himself  he  was  fired  upon  and  returned  the  fire,  firing  several  shots  at  the 
advancing  foe,  under  cover  of  the  bridge  crossing  Willoughby  Run.  This 
was  probably  the  first  shot  fired  at  the  enemy  from  the  field  of  Gettysburg. 
Early  in  the  morning,  probably  between  5  and  6,  the  pickets  on  the  road  to 
Hunterstown  were  attacked  by  a  small  party,  who  were  repulsed.  As  soon 
as  the  advance  of  the  enemy  was  made  known,  orders  were  sent  out  for  the 
withdrawal  of  pickets,  and  regiments  and  brigades  were  ordered  in  line  of 
battle,  and  Buford's  Division,  comprising  then  the  brigades  of  Gamble  and 
Devin,  formed  line  of  battle  along  this  Seminary  Ridge,  with  our  right  resting 
on  the  Mummasburg  Road.  While  we  were  occupying  this  position,  a  line  of 
Confederate  skirmishers  advanced  through  the  wheatfield  in  our  front  partially 
concealed  by  the  wheat  then  at  its  full  height.  When  near  enough,  our  regi- 
ment fired  a  volley  at  them  and  they  fled  across  the  field,  leaving  at  least  one 
man  killed.     So  far  as  we  know  this  was  the  first  man  killed  on  the  Rebel  side. 

One  of  the  Confederate  skirmishers  stopped  behind  a  tree  near  the  Forney 
House  and  Private  Nichols,  of  Company  F,  ran  forward  and  captured  him, 
bringing  in  the  first  prisoner  captured.  While  in  line,  Cyrus  W.  James,  cor- 
poral of  Company  G,  was  killed  near  the  spot  where  this  monument  stands,  and 
we  believe  he  was  the  first  Union  soldier  killed  on  the  morning  of  July  ist. 

It  was  after  the  battle  opened  that  I  heard  General  Buford  say  to  General 
Devin,  our  brigade  commander:  "  Devin,  this  is  the  key  to  the  army  position. 
We  must  hold  this  if  it  cost  every  man  in  our  command."  How  nobly  our 
division  did  defend  this  line,  you  all  know.  I  will  not  attempt  in  this  presence 
to  describe  that  conflict.  I  could  not  if  I  would.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the 
enemy  poured  their  veteran  columns  against  our  line  of  dismounted  men, 
who   stood   Hke   a   wall  of  fire  and  repulsed  their  repeated  charges  for  two 

73 


1 1 54  New  York  at  GExxYSBURa 

mortal  hours,  and  until  General  Reynolds  came  to  our  relief  with  the  First 
Corps. 

This  seems  a  fitting  place  for  this  monument.  It  was  here  that  our  regiment 
suffered  most  on  this  bloody  field,  although  during  the  two  and  three  days' 
fighting  we  were  all  over  it  from  Gulp's  Hill  to  Round  Top.  The  men  who 
fell  along  Seminary  Ridge  that  first  morning  were  as  large  a  percentage  of 
the  men  engaged  as  at  any  other  place,  although  but  a  small  portion  of  the 
great  number  of  men  who  fell  in  the  terrible  carnage  as  the  surging  fines 
dashed  against  each  other  with  a  fury  seldom  known,  either  on  the  second  day 
in  and  about  that  bloody  Peach  Orchard  and  Little  Round  Top  or  along 
Cemetery  Ridge  on  the  third  day  where  Pickett's  impetuous  charge  as  a  sort 
of  forlorn  hope  was  thrown  against  our  lines  with  the  desperation  of  despair, 
determined  to  break  our  centre  at  all  hazards. 

The  roar  of  artillery  and  the  rattle  of  musketry  on  that  early  morning  along 
Seminary  Ridge  was  but  the  prelude  before  that  awe-inspiring  chorus  on  the 
afternoon  of  July  3d,  when  the  great  artillery  duel  took  place,  the  like  of  which 
has  never  been  known.  At  no  spot  of  this  great  contest  was  there  exposed 
braver  hearts,  was  more  stubborn  resistance  made,  was  there  better  duty  per- 
formed or,  taken  as  a  part  of  the  great  whole,  better  results  accomplished. 
The  length  of  time  that  we  held  the  enemy  in  check  here  made  it  possible  for 
the  Union  army  to  gain  possession  of  Gulp's  Hill,  Cemetery  Ridge  and  Round 
Top,  which  made  success  certain  and  made  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  historical. 
This  was  the  high-water  mark  of  the  Rebellion.  Every  loyal  heart  rejoiced 
as  the  victory  was  proclaimed,  and  this  was  the  last  great  struggle  on  loyal 
territory. 

'The  day  following,  July  4th,  the  great  commander.  General  Grant,  flashed 
across  the  lines:  "Vicksburg  has  fallen."  From  that  time  the  Confederacy 
was  doomed;  the  struggle  was  prolonged,  but  its  light  grew  less  and  less  until 
it  flickered  and  went  out  at  Appomattox. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  cause  for  which  we  fought  was  not  for  con- 
quest, not  for  revenge,  not  to  crown  some  warrior  king,  was  not  to  satisfy 
vaulting  ambition,  was  not  for  the  love  of  war,  for  we  abhorred  it.  None  of 
these.  We  left  our  homes  and  counted  our  lives  as  naught,  to  save  to  our- 
selves and  to  posterity  the  country  that  our  fathers  had  baptized  with  their 
blood  and  bequeathed  to  us  for  the  use  of  all  liberty-loving  people  everywhere. 

The  terrible  sacrifice  we  cannot  estimate.  The  dead  who  fell  in  battle  may 
be  numbered,  but  the  anguish  of  the  maimed  who  carry  their  pains  as  a  daily 
burden  until  death  relieves  them,  the  broken-hearted  fathers  and  mothers  whose 
sons  sleep  beneath  the  sod,  and  whose  bowed  heads  have  been  hastened  to  an 
earlier  grave,  the  blasted  homes  where  the  widow  sits  in  darkness,  the  orphan 
children  who  were  left  to  life's  struggles  alone  —  the  sum  of  all  these  sorrows  • 
and  all  the  tears  of  bitterness  must  be  gathered  together  and  counted  before 
the  cost  can  be  told. 

We  do  not  undertake  to  sit  in  judgment  upon  the  men  who  caused  this 
terrible  strife.  They  must  meet  their  responsibility  at  the  Judgment  Bar  of 
God's  Tribunal.  The  great  loyal  North  opened  its  heart  of  forgiveness  as  far 
as  it  is  possible,  but  on  the  subject  of  forgiveness  there  is  much  misapprehension. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1155 

Repentance  is  the  condition  of  forgiveness.  If  the  Almighty  cannot  forgive 
without  repentance,  it  is  vain  for  man  to  try.  To  every  repentant  Rebel  we 
offer  from  our  heart  of  hearts,  our  full  and  free  forgiveness.  We  ask  him  to 
renounce  the  wrong  and  learn  to  love  his  country  and  teach  his  children  to 
love  it;  but  it  is  a  sad  day  for  any  community  or  country  when  there  is  no 
distinction  between  virtue  and  vice,  between  loyalty  and  rebellion.  I  trust 
that  the  Almighty  will  so  rule  the  hearts  of  men  in  this  country  that  they  will 
never  forget  that  patriotism  and  treason  are  not  synonymous  terms,  or  that 
there  is  a  vast  difference  between  the  men  who  sought  to  destroy  and  those 
who  offered  their  lives  to  save  the  country. 

It  is  sometimes  urged  that  we  must  forget  the  war.  We  stand  here,  most 
emphatically  to  urge  that  we  must  not  forget  it,  nor  allow  our  children  to  forget 
it.  It  taught  lessons  of  loyalty  and  love  of  country  that  ought  to  be  kept  alive 
in  the  breast  of  every  patriot.  We  think  that  every  man  who  raised  his  hand 
against  the  government  ought  to  teach  his  children  the  lessons  of  war  and 
say:  "  My  child,  the  God  of  Battles  ruled  ov6r  this  country,  and  in  the  con- 
flict in  which  we  were  engaged,  the  decision  was  against  us,  and  we  trust  that 
you  with  all  others  will  join  hands  with  every  man  to  hold  up  the  flag  of  this 
country."  If  this  shall  be  so,  and  if  the  future  generations  of  all  sections  shall 
profit  by  this  lesson  and  have  their  hearts  inspired  with  that  love  of  country 
that  they  should,  there  need  never  be  another  baptism  of  blood.  But  there 
must  needs  be,  unless  the  masses  are  permeated  with  respect  for  law  and  order, 
and  with  a  patriotism  and  love  of  country  that  shall  be  paramount  to  all  other 
interests. 

America,  "The  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave!"  Upon  you 
the  Almighty  has  set  His  seal  of  approval,  for  the  prosperity  that  has  attended 
this  country  since  the  close  of  the  war  has  never  been  paralleled  in  the  history 
of  the  world.  We  were  30,000,000  then,  we  are  over  60,000,000  now;  and  the 
material  wealth  has  increased  beyond  computation.  We  are  at  peace  with  the 
world.  No  war  at  home  or  abroad.  We  are  glad  that  the  sound  of  war  is 
hushed  and  that  the  white-winged  dove  of  peace  hovers  over  Gettysburg,  this 
place  whose  glory  rests  upon  the  hearts  of  the  living  and  the  tombs  of  the  dead. 
Gettysburg,  the  Westminster  Abbey  of  America. 

We  glance  back  through  the  intervening  years  between  this  reunion  and 
those  terrible  days  when  the  dirge  of  death  and  the  song  of  victory  mingled 
and  blended.  To-day  we  hear  the  trumpet  of  glad  jubilee  sounding  in  an- 
other year  of  peace.  It  is  surely  an  hour  for  reverie  and  remembrance,  for 
joy  and  tears.  As  we  gather  closer  together  and  feel  the  pulse-beat  of  each 
other's  sympathy,  we  remember  to-day,  with  a  peculiar  tenderness,  the  missing 
ones,  the  honored  dead,  the  heroic  men  who  helped  to  make  our  beloved  land 
great  and  true.  We  place  here,  as  a  token  of  our  remembrance,  this  monument, 
that  it  may  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  heroic  deeds. 

How  little  we  thought  when  we  were  on  this  field  before,  amid  the  din,  the 
noise  and  the  dangers  of  war,  when  the  future  of  this  mighty  Nation  was  com- 
mitted to  the  keeping  of  this  Grand  Army  of  which  we  were  a  part,  when  the 
relentless  scythe  of  death  was  swinging  backward  and  forward,  keeping  time 
to  the  rythm  of  the  steady  march,  march,  of  the  soldiers'  tread,  that  again  we 


1 1^6  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

should  look  out  upon  the  remaining  few  and  join  hands  with  those,  who  when 
shot  and  shell  fell  thick  and  fast,  reaping  down  brave  hearts  like  ripened  grain, — 
with  those  who,  taking  no  care  or  heed  of  themselves,  with  enthusiasm  never 
equalled,  with  devotion  never  excelled,  disheartened  by  no  defeat,  discouraged 
by  no  obstacle,  as  each  death  knell  sounded  closed  up  the  ranks  and  presented 
a  solid  wall  to  the  determined  and  advancing  foe. 

Those  three  days  counted  many  years  of  life.  They  changed  the  face  of 
this  beautiful  country,  which  lay  nestled  among  the  hills,  from  a  crown  of 
beauty  to  a  cradle  of  death. 

We  place  this  monument  here,  carved  and  chiseled  by  a  master  hand,  as  a  faint 
expression  of  love  for  the  fallen,  and  evidence  of  the  spontaneous  outbursts  of 
loyal  hearts;  but  there  is  no  monument  grand  enough,  no  hand  skilled  enough, 
no  tongue  or  pen  eloquent  enough,  no  words  intense  enough,  to  offer  a  fitting 
tribute  to  the  gallant  souls  whose  glory  is  immortal,  whose  bravery,  courage, 
and  death  are  written  in  the  world  and  in  the  hearts  of  men,  written  with  the 
blood  drops  of  fallen  heroes.  Their  pilgrimage  ended,  their  aims  accomplished, 
mighty  of  heart,  mighty  of  faith,  as  we  review  their  memories  who  shall  dare 
deny  that  success  belonged  to  those  things  which  were  right?  Is  it  a  wonder 
that  liberty  is  sweet?  Is  it  a  wonder  that  we  look  reverently  up  at  the  old  flag, 
upon  which  is  indelibly  stamped  in  gold  letters  across  the  red,  white  and  blue, 
"  Liberty,"  the  price  of  which  was  their  last  long  sleep  upon  the  field  of  Gettys- 
burg?    Is  it  a  wonder  the  spot  is  dear  to  us,  where  that  army  lies  sleeping? 

Stand  thou  there,  monument  of  granite  and  bronze,  and  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  the  heroic  dead,  whose  mortal  spirits  have  passed  from  all  scenes  of 
strife  and  war  to  the  great  Fatherhood  of  God,  into  the  land  of  peace,  ruled 
by  the  sceptre  of  infinite  love! 

Comrades,  we  share  the  glory  that  attaches  to  this  and  to  other  fields  of 
battle.  The  ranks  of  the  survivors  are  growing  less  and  less.  We  shall  never 
meet  again  on  this  or  any  other  battlefield.  We  are  under  marching  orders 
and  the  column  is  moving  rapidly.  These  silvered  heads  remind  us  that  our 
lifetime  of  service  will  soon  end.  To  the  Almighty  Father  who  preserved 
our  lives  amid  the  shock  of  battle,  and  who  has  granted  us  these  years  to 
enjoy  the  fruit  of  the  victory,  we  offer  our  devout  thanksgiving.  We  are  yet 
300,000  strong,  but  it  will  be  but  a  few  years  at  most,  until  we  shall  all  be 
mustered  out  of  service.  All  there  was  of  war  will  soon  be  in  written  and  not 
in  living  history.  While  we  remain,  may  we  so  live  that  our  lives  shall  teach 
but  one  lesson,  and  that,  the  supreme  love  of  country.  Having  passed  through 
the  trying  ordeal  of  war,  we  ought  to  represent  the  highest  type  of  American 
citizen,  and  see  to  it  that  in  our  lives  we  bring  no  mar  nor  blot  upon  the 
fair  escutcheon  for  which  he  fought. 


1" 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT, 


10th    new  YORK   CAVALRY. 
About  three  miles  east  of  Gettysburg,  on  the  Hanover  Road. 


F,   J.   SEVERKNCE,  PHOTO. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1157 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

10th  new  YORK 

CAVALRY 

3rd  brig.   3nd  DIV. 

CAVALRY  CORPS 

July  2nd  1863.   3  to  8  P.  M. 

(Reverse.) 

Casualties 

Killed  2,  wounded  4 

Missing  3 

Total  Loss,  9 


1158  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

10th  regiment  cavalry  — "PORTER  GUARDS." 

October  9,  1888. 

Address  by  Lieut.  Henry  E.  Hayes. 
Comrades  : 

On  a  cold  Christmas  night  nearly  twenty-seven  years  ago,  two  battalions  of 
what  was  then  known  as  the  "  Porter  Guards,"  numbering  about  800  strong, 
entered  this  quiet  little  town  of  Gettysburg.  It  was  the  first  advance  of  the 
Tenth  New  York  Cavalry  towards  the  battle  front.  They  came  here  filled 
with  the  buoyant  spirits,  the  ardent  ambition,  and  the  eager  hopes  of  youth. 
The  parting  kisses  of  dear  ones  left  behind  were  still  warm  upon  their  cheeks, 
the  echoes  of  tearful  farewells  still  trembled  in  their  hearts ;  but  in  the  firm  con- 
viction of  duty,  and  inspired  with  patriotic  devotion  to  their  country,  they 
looked  cheerfully  forward  to  a  happy  and  early  reunion  of  homes  as  well  as  of 
States. 

Other  faithful  comrades  joined  oui-  ranks  later,  but  in  time  for  our  second 
memorable  visit  here  to  participate  in  the  great  event  which  is  now  recorded 
as  one  of  the  most  important  epochs  in  our  country's  history.  Of  the  achieve- 
ments of  the  Tenth  New  York  Cavalry  in  the  bloody  campaigns  of  three  years 
of  active  field  duty,  from  Gettysburg  to  the  Appomattox,  and  of  the  part  it 
took  in  the  fierce  conflict  on  these  battle-scarred  hills,  others  who  are  with 
us  will  speak. 

We  stand  to-day,  comrades,  where,  in  1863,  that  great  tidal  wave  of  rebel- 
lion that  rolled  up  from  the  South  and  so  nearly  overwhelmed  us,  was  met  by 
an  immovable  dike  of  Union  bayonets  and  sabres  and  hurled  back  with  its 
floating  wrecks  and  devastated  ranks. 

As  we  glance  along  these  hills  we  can  plainly  trace  the  outline  of  that  wave 
that  left  their  slopes  thickly  strewn  with  the  marks  of  destruction  and  death. 
The  carved  granite  that  has  been  placed  along  the  line  shows  the  high-water 
mark  of  hostile  invasion  and  where  the  struggle  raged  fiercest. 

We  have  come  here  to-day,  comrades,  to  commemorate  the  day  and  the 
spot  on  which  the  old  Tenth  held  its  part  of  the  battle  line  in  that  momentous 
conflict.  We  have  come  to  dedicate  the  memorial  stone  that  has  been  placed 
here  to  silently  tell  our  story  to  posterity  long  after  our  lips  have  been  closed, 
and  all  living  witnesses  shall  have  passed  away. 

I  feel  that  it  is  a  great  privilege  to  be  here,  comrades,  and  I  am  thankful  for 
it.  The  flood  of  memories  that  arises  in  my  heart  and  the  emotions  that  over- 
whelm my  mind  as  I  find  myself  here  again  with  so  many  old  comrades  seem 
to  make  words  vain  and  meaningless.  I  have  only  to  say  that  the  occasion 
is  one  to  be  grateful  for.  And  there  are  many  reasons  why  the  sentiment  of 
gratitude  should  be  the  dominant  one  in  the  hearts  of  all  here  to-day.  We 
should  be  grateful  that  our  lives  were  spared  through  the  perils  of  camp  and 
battlefield,  and  the  score  and  more  years  that  have  since  elapsed,  and  that  we 


NevJ  York  at  Gettysburg.  ii59 

are  permitted  to  meet  again  at  dear  old  Gettysburg;  yes,  to  us,  dear  old 
Gettysburg, 

To  the  most  of  the  old  war  veterans  who  make  pilgrimages  here,  Gettysburg 
brings  up  only  the  bloody  memories  of  those  terrible  days  of  '63;  but  for  those 
of  us  who  sojourned  here  in  the  winter  of  1861  and  1862,  there  are  much 
pleasanter  reminiscences  of  this  famous  town.  Our  thoughts  leap  over  the 
great  battle  drama,  and  go  back  to  the  time  when  the  good  people  of  Gettys- 
burg opened  their  hospitable  doors  to  us  and  welcomed  us  with  such  a  fra- 
ternal and  paternal  spirit,  that  the  old  home§  and  old  loves  were  for  the  time 
almost  forgotten.  I  trust  that  their  many  kindnesses  at  that  time  are  appre- 
ciated, and  that  we  feel  duly  grateful  to  them  therefor. 

We  should  be  grateful  also  to  our  noble  Empire  State,  without  whose  loya'. 
generosity  we  could  not  to-day  have  dedicated  this  beautiful  memorial  emblem, 
shaped,  carved,  and  so  firmly  engrafted  upon  this  granite  ridge,  that  the  ages 
can  never  destroy  it.  We  should  be  grateful  also  to  the  members  of  the  New 
York  State  Commission,  under  whose  intelligent  supervision  this  monument 
has  been  constructed  and  placed  here.  Your  committee  feel  that  ac- 
knowledgments are  due  to  them  and  to  the  contractors  for  the  uniformly  ob- 
liging and  courteous  treatment  we  have  received  at  their  hands,  and  whose 
advice  and  assistance  have  been  valued  and  appreciated. 

And  now,  comrades,  our  duties  here  -will  soon  be  over.  A  few  short  hours 
of  pleasant  greetings  and  social  converse  and  we  must  again  say  the  parting 
good-bye,  and  turn  back  to  our  widely-separated  homes.  But  wherever  we 
may  go,  or  whatever  may  befall  us,  let  us  be  true  to  each  other,  true  to  the 
good  name  of  the  old  regiment,  true  to  ourselves,  true  to  our  country.  Let 
this  monument  typify  the  enduring  loyalty  and  patriotism  of  the  organization 
whose  name  is  inscribed  upon  its  granite  sides.  Let  it  also  be  a  symbol  of  the 
strength  and  permanence  of  faithful  comradeship  and  true  fraternity.  Let 
it  also  renew  and  perpetuate  the  pleasant  memories  of  old  times.  Let  us  leave 
this  spot  to-day,  comrades,  feeling  that  it  has  been  good  for  us  to  be  here,  and 
that  we  shall  be  better  and  happier  for  it  during  the  few  short  days  or  years 
that  may  yet  remain  for  us. 


TRANSFER  OF  MONUMENT. 

By  Maj.  George  W.  Kennedy. 

Comrades  and  Friends: 

We  meet  here  to  dedicate  this  monument,  which  marks  the  position  occupied 
by  our  regiment  during  the  battle,  and  transfer  it  to  the  care  and  keeping  of 
the  Gettysburg  Memorial  Association,  that  it  may  remain  as  a  reminder  to 
future  generations  that  the  gallant  Tenth  New  York  Cavalry  performed  its 
part  in  this  great  struggle,  and  not  only  here  but  on  scores  of  other  fields. 
It  will  be  the  shrine  to  which  all  members  and  friends  of  the  regiment  will 
bend  their  steps  when  they  visit  historic  Gettysburg.  It  will  cast  its  shadow 
over  the  scene  of  our  struggle  long  after  the  last  member  has  passed  to  his- 
silent  camping  ground.    May  the  future  generations  take  heed  of  the  lesson 


ii6o  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

it  will  teach  of  the  patriotism  of  the  men  who  defended  the  soil  of  this  State 
from  an  invading  foe,  and  as  they  look  upon  its  bronze  and  granite  may  they 
receive  fresh  inspirations  of  loyalty. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Gettysburg  Memorial  Association,  I  hereby,  on  behalf  of 
the  members  of  the  Tenth  New  York  Cavalry  Association,  transfer  to  your 
care  and  protection  this  monurtient,  which  commemorates  the  patriotism  of  the 
men  who  gave  their  lives  and  services  to  the  flag  and  country  they  loved  so 
well. 


ADDRESS  OF  CAPT.  NORRIS  MOREY. 
Comrades: 

A  work  of  love  and  gratitude  has  been  performed.  The  surviving  members 
of  the  Tenth  Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteer  Cavalry,  aided  by  a  generous 
contribution  from  the  State,  have  erected  this  monument  in  commemoration 
of  the  services  of  that  regiment  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

It  is'  not  needful  in  the  performance  of  the  grateful  and  honorable  duty 
assigned  to  me,  that  I  should  speak  in  detail  of  the  long  and  efficient  service 
of  the  regiment.  That  work  has  already  been  fittingly  done  in  the  historical 
address  to  which  we  have  listened. 

In  a  vital  sense,  indeed,  the  historical  account  is  the  most  important  part  of 
our  memorial  service.  Nothing  that  we  may  say  can  add  to  or  detract  from 
the  merit  of  the  services  and  sacrifices  of  this  regiment.  We  cannot  gild  fine 
gold  or  paint  the  lily.  But  when  hidden  treasures  are  found,  it  is  for  our  profit 
to  stop  to  gather  them,  and  when  a  thing  of  rare  beauty  is  disclosed  to  us,  we 
pause  to  look  upon  it  and,  as  far  as  we  may,  to  appropriate  to  ourselves  the 
delight  and  the  instruction  which  it  offers.  The  human  mind  cannot  be  occu- 
pied more  profitably  than  in  contemplating  noble  deeds,  or  patient  endurance, 
or  sacrifice  of  self,  to  help  forward  worthy  ends. 

There  have  been  times  when  masses  of  men,  moved  by  some  tide  of  inspira- 
tion, have  gone  to  the  very  summit  of  human  capability  in  doing  and  daring 
and  sacrificing.  Such  men  and  such  times  are  stepping  stones,  upon  which 
the  men  who  follow  may  mount  to  higher  levels;  they  are  the  beacon  lights 
without  which  any  advance  in  the  pathway  of  progress  would  be  well-nigh 
impossible.  And  at  this  time,  when  the  pursuit  of  wealth  appears  to  be  thought 
the  chief  end  of  man,  it  is  well  that  we  turn  our  thoughts  to  that  time  when  the 
life  of  the  nation  depended,  not  upon  the  riches,  but  upon  the  courage  and 
patriotism  of  its  citizens. 

We  mean  by  this  memorial,  first  of  all,  to  show  forth  our  gratitude  for,  and 
our  pride  in,  the  patriotism  which  inspired  the  members  of  this  regiment  to 
volunteer  for  the  defence  of  their  country  at  a  time  when  it  stood  in  unex- 
pected and  imminent  peril  from  the  armies  of  the  Rebellion. 

This  regiment  was  made  up  of  men  who  enlisted  soon  after  the  first  battle 
of  Bull  Run.  The  loyal  men  of  the  country  then  first  realized  that  they  stood 
at  the  beginning  of  a  long,  bloody,  and  perhaps  doubtful  struggle.  It  was  to 
take  part  in  such  a  struggle  that  the  members  of  this  regiment  volunteered. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  ii6i 

They  came  from  the  homes  and  farms,  the  villages  and  cities,  of  Central  and 
Western  New  York.  There  have  been  times  and  countries  in  which  men 
have  been  bred  only  to  strife;  in  which  might  has  been  the  only  right,  and  in 
which  war  and  plunder  were  the  only  pursuits  that  were  either  gainful  or 
honorable.  But  these  men  lived  in  a  land  of  law  and  liberty,  of  plenty  and 
peace;  they  were  trained  only  in  the  arts  and  pursuits  of  peace.  They  were 
young  men  in  a  country  enjoying  almost  unexampled  prosperity,  and  in  which 
every  opportunity  was  open  to  well-directed  and  persevering  industry. 

When  they  volunteered,  they  abandoned  all  these  opportunities,  and  with 
them  they  abandoned  all  the  comforts  and  delights  of  home  and  family;  they 
gave  up  all  the  advantages  which  they  had  gained  by  their  labors  in  the  past 
and  the  hopes  they  had  cherished  for  the  future;  and  for  the  sake  of  their 
country,  to  preserve  the  unity  and  life  of  the  nation  of  which  they  were  citizens, 
offered  everything  they  had  and  were,  even  hfe  itself,  to  the  doubtful  chance 
of  the  camp  and  the  march,  and  the  yet  more  perilous  hazard  of  battle.  Alas! 
how  many  of  them  did  not  return;  and  how  many  others  returned  only  with 
mutilated  bodies  or  broken  health  and  hope. 

We  would  recall  also  to  all  persons  who  may  look  upon  this  monument,  the 
courage  and  faithfulness  which  marked  the  career  and  service  of  the  Tenth 
Cavalry.  Its  services  in  the  field  began  near  Washington  in  August,  1862,  and 
ended  only  with  the  surrender  of  Johnston's  forces  to  Sherman,  in  April,  1865. 
Its  first  engagement  was  at  Leesburg,  August,  1862,  and  its  last  was  at  Appo- 
mattox, April  9,  1865.  Between  those  dates  its  history  when  written  will  show 
a  long  and  honorable  record  of  hard,  faithful,  and  effective  service.  During 
nearly  all  of  this  period  the  Tenth  Cavalry  was  brigaded  with  Gregg's  Division 
of  cavalry,  and  served  with  th«  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  cavalry,  in  the  spring  of  1863,  the  Confederate 
cavalry,  under  the  command  of  that  skillful  and  enterprising  chief.  Gen.  J.  E.  B. 
Stuart,  had  not  been  confronted  by  any  organized  mounted  force,  acting  under 
its  own  chiefs,  and  as  a  separate  command;  but  from  the  organization  of  the 
Cavalry  Corps  a  new  chapter  begins.  It  is  a  chapter  which  records  a  rapid 
and  extraordinary  development  of  the  uses  and  fighting  force  of  a  body  of 
well-trained  cavalry,  and  is  filled  with  the  record  of  hard  fighting  and  brilliant 
achievement. 

At  Brandy  Station,  at  Aldie,  at  Upperville,  and  at  Middleburg,  the  Union 
cavalry  forces  met  the  cavalry  of  Stuart,  in  stubborn  hand-to-hand,  hard-fought 
conflicts,  and  were  successful  in  each  case  in  driving  back  or  holding  at  bay 
that  renowned  cavalry  leader,  thereby  rendering  most  efficient  and  valuable 
aid  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  at  a  tinjie  when  such  aid  was  sorely  needed. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  the  Tenth  Cavalry  coming 
up  the  Hanover  Road,  on  Brinkerhoff  Ridge,  upon  the  spot  where  we  now 
stand,  had  the  first  engagement  on  our  right  with  the  Confederate  cavalry. 
And  on  the  third  day  of  the  battle,  Gregg's  Division,  of  which  the  Tenth 
Cavalry  was  a  part,  on  this  field,  not  far  from  the  place  where  we  now  stand, 
bore  a  distinguished  part  in  one  of  the  fiercest  and  most  obstinately  contested 
cavalry  battles  of  the  war. 


1 1 62  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day  Stuart  set  forth  with  four  brigades  to  pass 
round  the  Union  right,  to  strike  upon  the  Baltimore  Pike,  the  rear  of  the  army 
of  Meade.  It  was  a  daring  and  well-planned  scheme  and  promised  great  re- 
sults. But  on  this  same  morning,  Gregg's  Division  having  camped  the  previous 
night  along  the  Baltimore  Pike  near  the  bridge  over  White  Run,  moved  north- 
erly along  Cress  Run,  to  stand  sentinel  upon  our  right  flank,  against  just  such 
movements  as  this  of  Stuart.  When  Gregg  reached  the  Hanover  Road  he 
found  Custer's  Brigade  stationed,  for  the  time  being,  near  the  intersection  of 
the  Dutch  Road  with  the  Hanover  Road.  Fighting  soon  began,  and  was 
almost  continuous  from  lo  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  2  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, and  Stuart's  four  brigades  had  not  gone  south  of  the  Hanover  Road. 

When  about  2  in  the  afternoon,  the  mighty  roar  of  that  cannonade,  which 
preceded  Pickett's  great  charge,  shook  the  earth,  Stuart,  anxious  to  strike  a 
blow  in  the  rear  at  the  moment  when  Pickett's  charge  should  strike  the  Union 
centre,  is  ready  to  move  two  of  his  brigades  south  across  the  Hanover  Road 
towards  the  Baltimore  Pike,  leaving  Lee's  and  Hampton's  Brigades  to  take 
care  of  the  two  brigades  of  Gregg.  But  at  this  critical  moment  one  of  Gregg's 
brigades  (Mcintosh's)  advances  against  the  Rebel  cavalry  on  Rummell's  Farm, 
and  is  confronted  by  two  brigades  under  the  command  of  Fitz  Hugh  Lee. 
Custer,  who  had  but  just  set  out  in  obedience  to  his  orders  towards  the  Union 
left,  returns  upon  the  urgent  call  of  Gregg,  and  reinforces  Mcintosh's  hard- 
pressed  troopers.  Stuart  now  realizes  that  he  must  dispose  of  Gregg's  three 
brigades  of  obstinate  fighting  cavalry,  before  he  can  make  his  longed-for  ir- 
ruption upon  the  Baltimore  Pike ;  and  he  turns  fiercely  back  and  throws  all  his 
four  brigades  upon  the  cavalry  of  Gregg  and  Custer. 

And  so  they  wrestled  and  fought  all  that  summer  afternoon,  while  Lee  was 
hurling  the  column  of  Pickett  against  the  Federal  centre  but  three  miles  away. 
And  when  nightfall  came,  the  Union  cavalry,  but  5,000  strong,  had  more  than 
held  their  own  against  Stuart's  6,000  troopers.  Stuart's  Cavalry  had  not  suc- 
ceeded on  that  afternoon,  so  fatal  to  the  hopes  of  the  Rebel  armies  and  leaders, 
in  breaking  upon  the  Union  rear.  They  had  not  been  able  to  hold  even  the 
ground  they  occupied  at  the  beginning  of  the  conflict.  It  was  indeed  a  famous 
fight. 

During  a  considerable  part  of  the  campaigns  of  1864  and  1865  the  cavalry 
force  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  under  the  command  of  that  leader  of 
cavalry  leaders,  Gen.  Phil.  Sheridan,  seconded  by  such  generals  of  division 
and  brigade  as  Merritt,  Custer,  Wilson,  Devin,  and  the  Greggs,  and  in  the 
final  campaign.  Crook  and  Mackenzie.  It  led  nearly  every  advance,  it  made 
repeated  raids  through  Virginia  in  the  rear  of  the  Rebel  army,  capturing  sup- 
plies and  destroying  railroads,  and  its  co-operation  and  aid  came  to  be  held  a 
prime  factor  in  every  plan  of  action. 

The  Rebel  cavalry  might  sometimes  impede,  but  it  may  fairly  be  said,  that 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864  and  1865,  they  were  no  longer  able,  without  the 
aid  of  the  infantry,  to  stay  the  rapid  movements. 

At  Winchester,  a  resolute  charge  by  the  Union  cavalry  upon  the  flank  of 
Early's  already  hard-pressed  army  was  the  turning  point  in  one  of  the  most 
critical  and  important  battles  of  the  war.    And,  at  Five  Forks,  which  was  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1163 

good  beginning  of  the  ending,  which  came  so  soon  at  Appomattox,  and  was 
indeed  a  "  crowning  mercy,"  the  cavalry  took  the  initiative  and  played  the 
leading  part. 

It  would  be  hard  to  find  in  the  annals  of  civilized  warfare  a  more  brilliant 
and  instructive  example  of  the  effective  service  which  can  be  rendered  by  a  large 
body  of  veteran  cavalry,  led  by  skillful  and  enterprising  leaders,  than  was  ex- 
hibited in  that  closing  campaign,  which  resulted  in  the  surrender  of  General 
Lee  and  his  entire  army.  The  capture  of  such  an  army,  commanded  by  such  a 
general,  is  one  of  the  rare  and  extraordinary  events  in  history. 

And  we  cannot  do  full  justice  to  the  soldiers  of  the  Union  army  in  the  east, 
unless  we  recall  that  during  all  those  bloody  years,  they  had  to  contend  with 
that  dauntless  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  which  having  spent  its  best  blood 
in  the  vain  attempt  cm  these  hills  at  Gettysburg,  in  July,  1863,  to  overthrow 
a  Union  army  on  the  soil  of  a  loyal  State,  was  yet  ready  to  grapple  with  the 
great  army  with  which  Grant  crossed  the  Rappahannock  in  the  spring  of  1864. 
Through  all  that  mighty  death  struggle  of  1864,  from  the  Rappahannock,  across 
Virginia  to  the  James,  and  around  and  beyond  Petersburg,  the  soldiers  of  that 
army  presented  an  unyielding  front  to  the  attacks  which  Grant  continually 
hurled  against  them. 

And  then,  in  the  early  spring  of  1865,  Sheridan  came  with  his  welcome 
legion  of  victorious  troopers,  and  led  his  army  of  sabres  far  beyond  the  Rebel 
intrenchments  at  Petersburg,  With  his  cavalry,  fighting  on  foot  close  to  their 
works  at  Five  Forks,  he  held  the  famous  divisions  of  Pickett  and  Johnson  from 
morning  until  late  in  that  Saturday  afternoon,  when  the  Fifth  Cprps  fell  upon 
their  right  and  rear,  and  with  one  blow  broke  and  captured  the  larger  part  of 
those  divisions  of  veterans. 

And  from  Five  Forks  westward,  the  hitherto  invincible  army  of  Lee  was 
beset  and  harassed  and  attacked  at  every  step  of  its  retreat  by  this  same  in- 
domitable Union  cavalry,  delaying  every  -hour  of  that  retreat,  which  needed  to 
be  swift  and  continuous.  And  after  them,  and  often  keeping  pace  with  them, 
came  the  swiftly  moving  columns  of  the  infantry  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
which  bruised  and  baffled  with  many  defeats  now  saw,  under  the  leadership 
of  Grant  and  Sheridan,  that  its  hour  of  final  triumph  was  at  hand. 

And  so  it  happened  that,  when  on  the  morning  of  that  never-to-be-forgotten 
April  day  at  Appomattox  the  tired  and  hungry,  but  yet  unconquered  Rebel 
infantry,  moved  out  to  force  their  way  through  the  ever-present  cavalry,  the 
enveloping  cloud  of  the  Union  horsemen  was  drawn  aside,  the  solid  line  of 
the  Fifth  and  Twenty-fourth  Army  Corps  was  disclosed,  and  those  veterans 
of  Lee,  who  had  hitherto  scarcely  known  defeat,  knew  that  the  hour  of  destiny 
had  come. 

Surely  no  soldier  or  patriot  would  dare  to  pluck  a  single  leaf  from  the  laurels 
which  were  won  by  the  oft-defeated,  patient,  stubborn,  heroic,  and  uncon- 
querable infantry  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Fighting  as  that  army  did, 
under  many  chiefs,  against  the  finest  soldiers  and  ablest  generals  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, and  followed  through  all  its  history  by  many  and  unexpected  reverses  and 
misfortunes,  it  is  entitled  to  a  gratitude  which  can  never  be  told  or  measured, 
and  has  won  a  glory  which  is  all  its  own.     But  it  must  still  be  said,  that  the 


1 1 64  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Cavalry  Corps  of  that  army,  in  the  closing  campaigns  of  the  war,  made  a  new 
revelation  of  what  may  be  done  by  a  large  body  of  intelUgent,  well-disciplined, 
veteran  horsemen,  led  by  daring  and  skilled  chiefs,  moving  swiftly  as  mounted 
troopers  only  can  move,  and  fighting  on  foot  with  the  carbine,  or  from  the 
saddle  with  the  sabre,  as  occasion  required.  It  was  Gregg's  Division  of  cavalry 
which  barred  the  line  of  Ewell's  retreat  at  Sailor's  Creek,  and  the  same  division 
was  interposed  between  the  army  of  Lee  at  Appomattox  and  its  line  of  retreat 
towards  Lynchburg  on  the  evening  of  April  8,  1865. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  complete  history  of  the  Union  cavalry  may  yet  be 
written  by  some  competent  hand. 

Doubtless  the  history  which  the  lamented  Sheridan,  whose  recent  and  un- 
timely death  every  patriotic  American  mourns,  will  go  far  towards  making  up 
the  fit  record  of  the  achievements  of  those  troops  of  which  he  was  the  undis- 
puted and  knightly  chief. 

But  if  the  whole  brave  story  were  told,  there  would  still  remain  a  final  word 
to  be  said  in  the  dedication  of  a  memorial  to  the  services  of  soldiers  of  the  army 
of  the  Union. 

A  glance  at  the  history  of  the  past  shows  that  many  wars  have  been  waged 
for  trivial  causes  or  ignoble  purposes,  sometimes  to  gratify  the  caprice  or  the 
envy  or  the  spite  of  some  monarch  or  minister,  sometimes  to  avenge  some 
fancied  slight  or  insult  to  a  favorite,  sometimes  to  satisfy  the  greed  or  the 
ambition  of  some  ruler. 

Many  of  the  most  desperate  and  wasteful  wars  of  modern  times  have  been 
carried  on  for  even  baser  and  wickeder  ends  than  these:  —  to  rob  whole 
peoples  and  races  of  rights  acquired  only  by  ages  of  suffering  and  struggle,  to 
repress,  and,  if  possible,  to  destroy  the  aspiration  for  progress  and  freedom 
which  comes  with  the  dawn  of  knowledge  and  the  opening  of  opportunity  to 
every  race  and  people,  to  beat  back  with  bloody  hand  the  slow  and  difficult 
march  of  the  race  towards  a  better  day,  of  liberty,  and  of  equal  right  and  equal 
opportunity  for  all. 

This  monument  is  not  erected  as  a  memorial  of  services  like  these.  We  say, 
and  we  say  it  with  pride  and  joy,  that  the  soldiers  of  the  Tenth  New  York 
Cavalry  enlisted  in  the  highest  and  noblest  cause  for  which  war  can  be  waged, 
for  which  men  can  sacrifice  or  die. 

The  armies  of  the  Union  fought  not  to  destroy,  but  to  save;  not  to  make  con- 
quest of  the  lands  and  liberties  of  another  nation,  but  to  hold  and  maintain 
their  own;  not  to  repress  the  aspirations  or  hinder  the  advance  of  men  in  the 
march  towards  liberty  and  self-government,  but  to  resist  to  the  uttermost  a 
desperate  effort  to  overthrow  and  dissolve  our  Union  of  States,  and  to  estab- 
lish upon  its  ruins  one  or  more  confederacies  of  states  devoted  to  a  system  of 
chattel  slavery. 

They  enlisted,  not  for  themselves,  but  for  the  nation  of  which  they  were 
citizens  and  rulers ;  not  to  make  slaves  of  those  already  free,  but  to  give  liberty 
to  a  down-trodden  and  despised  race  of  slaves;  not  at  all  for  the  sake  of  the 
honors  or  triumphs  of  war,  but  that  a  condition  breeding  continual  wars  might 
be  averted. 

Nothing  indeed  could  be  finer  or  nobler,  or  more  characteristic  of  the  tern- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1165 

per  in  which  the  war  for  the  Union  was  waged,  than  the  manner  in  which  it 
was  ended. 

When  Grant  received  the  surrender  of  the  army  of  Lee,  it  was  with  a  stipula- 
tion of  his  own  making,  that  the  soldiers  might  retain  their  horses,  so  that  on 
their  return  to  their  homes  they  might  use  them  to  plow  their  fields. 

Whenever  any  portion  of  the  Confederate  army  surrendered,  the  faces  of 
the  capturing  Union  army  were  turned  homeward  without  delay. 

At  the  close  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  a  scheme  was  set  on  foot  to  con- 
tinue an  organization  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Continental  army  for  the  promotion 
of  their  own  interests,  and  Washington's  consent  and  leadership  were  sought. 
The  European  world  has  not  yet  ceased  to  wonder  at  and  admire  the  purity  and 
consecration  of  Washington  in  laying  down  his  command,  and  in  refusing  to 
consent  to  the  continuance  of  his  military  authority  at  the  hazard  of  the 
liberties  of  his  country. 

But  at  the  close  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  there  were  more  than  three- 
quarters  of  a  million  of  disciplined  Union  soldiers,  completely  organized  and 
equipped,  and  flushed  with  victory. 

There  were  great  commanders.  Grant,  Sherman,  Sheridan,  and  Thomas, 
who  had  conducted  campaigns  successfully  upon  a  large  scale  and  whose 
names  were  on  every  tongue. 

No  human  being,  soldier  or  officer,  in  all  that  vast  army,  so  far  as  is  known, 
ever  proposed  or  even  suggested  that  this  great  military  organization  could  or 
should  be  wielded  to  promote  any  unlawful  end,  or  to  gratify  any  personal 
ambition.  No  intelligent  man  needs  to  be  told  that  the  promoter  of  any  such 
scheme  would  have  been  visited  by  each  of  those  patriotic  soldiers  with  the 
swiftest  and  sternest  condemnation. 

I  know  of  no  weightier  testimony  than  this,  to  the  good  citizenship  which 
is  bred  by  the  habit  and  practice  of  self-government. 

Among  civilized  nations  an  unsuccessful  rebellion  has  commonly  been 
followed  by  the  extirpation  or  exile  of  all  who  have  organized  or  been  con- 
spicuous in  the  rebellion;  by  confiscation  and  attainders;  and  by  indiscriminate 
plundering  by  the  victorious  army. 

But  when  the  military  forces  of  the  Rebellion  were  utterly  destroyed,  after 
four  years  of  fierce  and  wasting  war,  the  victory  of  the  Union  armies  was  fol- 
lowed by  no  act  of  revenge  upon  the  organizers,  the  leaders,  or  the  soldiers  of 
the  Rebellion,  on  the  part  of  the  Union  soldiers  or  the  government;  no  lives 
were  taken  and  no  punishments  inflicted,  as  the  penalty  for  treason  and  rebel- 
lion; there  were  no  attainders  and  no  confiscations. 

Hardly  a  shot  was  fired  by  the  Union  soldiers  from  the  hour  the  Rebel 
soldiers  laid  down  their  arms.  The  Union  soldiers  joyfully  laid  aside  their 
arms,  and  hastened  to  their  homes,  thankful  that  they  had  finished  their  hard 
and  perilous  task,  and  were  ready  to  resume  the  duties  of  civil  life. 

There  are  those  who  believe,  or  affect  to  believe,  that  our  scheme  of  self- 
government  can  produce,  and  has  produced,  only  a  crude  and  imperfect  civiliza- 
tion; that  the  common  mind  is  low  and  narrow;  and  that  the  multitude  are  not 
endowed  with  those  higher  and  nobler  qualities  needed  in  the  great  exigencies 
of  government. 


1 1 66  New  York  at  Gettysburg, 

I  would  ask  all  such  sceptics  to  look  over  the  volumes  containing  the  history 
of  conquered  rebellions,  and  find,  if  they  can,  anything  that  will  compare  in 
kind  or  degree  with  the  self-control,  the  magnanimity,  the  kindly  spirit,  with 
which  the  common  soldiers  and  the  loyal  common  people  of  this  nation,  treated 
our  conquered  rebels. 

Nor  was  the  war,  for  which  the  soldiers  enlisted,  carried  on  to  gratify  the 
caprice  or  cupidity  or  ill-will  of  a  selfish  or  ambitious  ruler.  The  real  declara- 
tion of  war,  which  followed  the  fall  of  Sumter,  came  not  from  Congress  or 
president,  but  from  the  united  voice  of  the  loyal  people  of  the  country.  Our 
president  was  one  to  whom  pride  and  greed  and  selfish  ambition,  as  motives 
of  public  action,  were  unknown.  The  fine  instinct  of  the  people,  wiser  far  than 
the  judgment  of  any  single  man,  selected  as  its  chosen  leader  in  that  moment 
of  supreme  danger,  a  man  comparatively  unknown  and  almost  untried. 

To  those  who  still  doubt  the  capability  of  a  democracy  to  guide  its  own 
great  affairs,  I  commend  the  life  and  character  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Mr.  Lincoln  had  only  the  smallest  advantages  of  early  training  and  educa- 
tion, and  he  came  to  the  presidency  without  any  of  the  graces  of  the  schools 
or  of  courts;  and  yet  his  was  the  masterly  hand  that  guided  our  diplomacy 
through  the  period  of  the  Rebellion,  when  more  than  one  foreign  power  would 
have  welcomed  any  pretext  to  interfere  against  the  Union  cause. 

He  was  a  man  of  gentle  and  amiable  disposition;  yet  when  any  principle  he 
believed  to  be  vital  was  at  stake,  he  listened  to  no  compromise  and  shrank 
from  no  conflict. 

He  was  a  hater  of  war,  and  disliked  all  its  stern  and  unyielding  ways;  and 
yet  when  war  was  begun  to  destroy  the  Union,  he  called  more  than  a  million 
of  men  into  the  field,  and  organized  one  of  the  greatest  armies  of  modern 
times;  and  would  hearken  to  no  overture  for  peace,  except  on  the  basis  of  an 
unbroken  Union  and  the  freedom  of  the  slaves. 

By  his  absolute  sincerity,  which  gradually  drew  to  him  the  confidence  of  all 
those  who  were  sincerely  devoted  to  the  cause  for  which  he  contended,  and 
by  the  sanity,  largeness,  and  strength  of  his  intellect,  which  appeared  to  have  a 
force  in  reserve  for  every  emergency,  and  which  made  him  large-minded  and 
tolerant  of  all  measures  or  men  that  co-operated  or  could  be  made  to  co-operate 
in  accomplishing  the  great  ends  to  which  he  was  devoted,  he  was  fit  to  be  the 
master-spirit  of  that  mighty  struggle  which  we  hope  has  tested  once  for  all  the 
strength  of  our  Federal  Union  of  States,  and  the  sincerity  of  the  devotion  of 
our  people  to  our  system  of  representative  self-government.  He  was  worthy 
indeed  to  be  the  prophet  and  leader  of  that  period  which  was  the  heroic  age  of 
our  history. 

We  must  not  and  cannot  forget,  on  an  occasion  like  this,  that  it  was  in  a  war 
for  such  a  cause,  carried  on  in  such  a  spirit,  and  under  such  a  leader,  that  the 
soldiers  of  the  Tenth  Cavalry,  and  all  the  soldiers  of  the  army  of  the  Union 
enlisted  and  served. 

It  is  fitting  indeed  that  on  this  spot,  where  the  Tenth  Cavalry  bore  a  dis- 
tinguished part  in  that  battle  which  inflicted  upon  the  soldiers  of  the  chief 
army  of  the  Rebellion  its  severest  hurt,  we  should  raise  and  dedicate  this  endur- 
ing memorial  of  their  devotion  and  service. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1167 

And  while  we  dedicate  this  monument,  let  us  dedicate  ourselves  anew  to  that 
high  cause  which  was  served  so  faithfully  and  well  by  the  soldiers  of  the  Union. 

"  Peace  hath  her  victories,  no  less  renowned  than  war." 

The  duties  of  good  citizenship  are  of  perpetual  obligation.  The  contest  for 
good  government  is  being  continually  lost  or  won.  To  the  doing  of  our  part 
in  that  great  contest,  let  us  devote  ourselves, —  that  liberty  may  continue  our 
portion  under  the  reign  of  law  and  the  benediction  of  peace;  that  honest  in- 
dustry may  have  its  fair  opportunity  and  may  not  fail  of  its  just  reward;  that  the 
forces  of  private  moraUty  and  public  virtue  may  prevail  against  the  weakening 
and  corrupting  influences,  which  grow  rank  and  luxuriant  in  the  midst  of  our 
material  prosperity,  so  that  it  may  not  come  to  pass,  in  our  day  at  least,  thit 
the  Nation  of  Washington  and  Lincoln  shall  be  a  land  "  where  wealth  accumu- 
lates and  men  decay;"  and  that  our  great  experiment  of  "government  of  the 
people,  by  the  people,  and  for  the  people,"  may  endure,  and  enduring  may 
prove  itself  meet  and  fit  to  do  the  great  work  which  has  been  appointed  for  it 
to  do. 


DEDICATORY  POEM. 
"In  Later  Days." 
By  Capt.  James  Franklin  Fitts. 
Again  we  hear  the   bugles  blow 

The  old  familiar  strain  — 
Right  well  the  veteran  troopers  know 

As  they  hear  it  once  again. 
What's  this?  the  hills  about  us  rise 

Unchanged,  to  blue  and  bending  skies, 
The  mountain  wall  before  our  eyes  — 
The  same  —  the  same! 

Swing  backward  Time's  reluctant  gates, 

Reverse   the  hurrying   stream; 
Keen  memory  on  our  vision  waits. 

To  say  'tis  not  a  dream. 
The  smoke  of  strife,  the  fires  of  hell, 

Rage  round  us  now  from  hill  to  dell. 
We  hear  again  the  charging  yell  — 

The  same  —  the  samel 

What  thunders  roll  from  hill  to  hill. 

What  flashes  rend  the  smoke! 
What  fierce  delights  our  spirits  fill. 

Oh,  Union  hearts  of  oak! 
With  slackened  rein,  with  sword  arm  free. 

We  charge  together,  knee  to  knee. 
Stout  riders  in  that  cause  are  we  — 

The  same  —  the  same! 


1 1 68  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  bugles  blow,  the  pennons  fly. 

The  shouts,  the  clash  of  steel, 
The  tumults  of  the  fight  are  nigh. 

Our  straining  senses  reel. 
The  tides  of  battle  ebb  and  flow, 

We  feel  the  quick,  delirious  glow 
None  but  the  soldier's  breast  may  know  — 

The  same  —  the  samel 

Oh!  grand  experience  of  those  daysi— 

Life  lingers  slowly  now. 
It  hath  no  spirit-stirring  frays. 

No  laurels  for  the  brow. 
Yet  at  the  bugle's  glorious  thrill. 

Re-echoing  from  hill  to  hill, 
We  feel  again  the  warrior's  will  — 

The  same  —  the  samel 

And  something  more.     With  feel^er  psxt. 

Eyes  dimmed  of  youthful  fire. 
We  seek  anew  this  haunted  place. 

With  not  a  trace  of  ire. 
To  grasp  each  comrade's  hand  again. 

And  half  in  pleasure,  half  in  pain, 
To  view  the  skies,  the  hills,  the  plain  — 

The  same  —  the  same! 

Rest  for  the  fallen!     On  that  height 

Where  fiercest  tempests  beat. 
They  sleep  the  long  and  peaceful  night 

Of  ages.     Not  the  heat 
Of  summers,  nor  the  storms  that  rave. 

Can  vex  their  rest  who  died  to  save; 
They  wait  the  roll-call  of  the  brave  — 

The  same  —  the  same! 

And  till  these  hills  shall  rend  and  rock^ 
'  Till  sinks  yon  mountain  wall. 

Saved  in  the  roaring  battle's  shock. 

Shall  Union  rise  o'er  all. 
Clasp  hands,  old  comrades!  Here  to-day 

We  tell  the  story  of  that  fray  — 
Freedom  and  Union!  Blue  and  Gray 

At  last  the  samel 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1169 

ADDRESS  BY.MAJ.  LUTHER  L.  BARNEY. 
Comrades: 

Staff  duty  is  a  comprehensive  term  and  embraces  a  little  of  almost  every- 
thing done  in  an  army.  It  begins  with  the  regimental  staff  and  by  regular 
gradations  advances  to  positions  second  in  importance  and  responsibility 
only  to  that  of  the  commanding  oificer.  Upon  the  intelligent  appreciation 
and  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties  by  the  staff  officel-  often  hangs  the  suc- 
cess of  the  general's  best-laid  plans. 

The  relations  of  general  and  staff  are  most  confidential,  and  from  that  of 
commander  and  subordinates  come  to  be  regarded  by  all  more  like  that  of  a 
father  and  his  family  of  grown-up  sons.  Indeed  the  expression  comes  often 
into  use, —  "  my  military  family,"  when  a  commander  alludes  to  his  staff,  the 
adjutant  general,  of  course,  occupying  the  position  of  eldest  son  and  confidential 
assistant,  and  from  him  grading  down  through  quartermaster  general,  com- 
missary general,  inspector  general,  etc.,  to  the  small  boys  who  run  of  errands, 
to-wit, —  the  aides.  My  first  experience  upon  the  staff  was  as  battalion  quarter- 
master, a  grade  abolished  by  general  orders  in  1862;  next,  a  short  time  as 
regimental  quartermaster  that  lasted  only  a  few  days,  just  long  enou^fh  for  a 
dishonest  assistant  surgeon  to  shoulder  on  to  me  a  shortage  of  $20  or  $25  for 
his  stealings,  which  I  paid  and  pocketed  the  loss  with  the  honor. 

But  to  be  selected  by  the  general  commanding  a  division,  from  among  the 
200  or  more  subaltern  officers  of  his  command,  as  the  one  to  fill  a  vacancy  in 
his  military  family,  was  an  honor  much  coveted  by  the  aforesaid  subalterns, 
and  when  one  day  in  the  winter  of  1862-63,  General  Gregg  sent  a  request  for  my 
presence,  and  on  arrival  at  his  quarters,  expecting  a  possible  reprimand,  to  be 
told  I  had  been  so  selected  by  him,  was  indeed  almost  more  than  in  my  then 
humility,  I  could  stand  up  under.  Just  how  I  got  out  of  his  tent  and  back  to 
my  own  quarters,  whether  on  my  feet  or  my  head  or  whether  I  had  wings, —  I 
never  knew  and  don't  to  this  day. 

But  he  who  supposes  the  position  of  a  staff  officer  is  all  "  pudding  "  is  sorely 
mistaken.  The  nature  of  his  position  is  such  that  he  must  frequently  bear 
heavy  responsibilities  and  assume  serious  personal  risks  not  common  to  other 
positions.  He  must  be  eyes  and  ears  for  the  general  whom  he  serves,  and  upon 
his  soldierly  qualities  ofttimes  hangs  the  fate  of  the  command.  Then  who 
that  has  been  there  can  forget  the  feelings  of  the  staff  officer  as  he  starts  off  on 
some  lonely  night  ride  in  a  country  he  has  never  set  foot  in  before,  to  find  and 
deliver  to  some  other  commander,  whose  whereabouts  are  as  uncertain  as  the 
proverbial  "  needle  in  a  haystack,"  some  communication  upon  which  hangs 
to-morrow's  success  and  the  lives  of  hundreds  or  thousands  of  his  fellows,  and 
ere  his  goal  is  reached  or  he  has  any  definite  idea  when  it  will  be,  finds  him- 
self, as  I  have,  outside  the  lines  taken  for  the  enemy's  advance  and  being  fired 
upon  by  his  own  friends. 

As  I  have  said,  the  staff  officer  must  be  eyes  and  ears  for  his  general.  I 
remember  my  feelings  once  when  General  Gregg  turned  me  over  to  General 
Stoneman  for  special  duty,  which  was  to  follow  and  watch  the  result  of  a 
certain  movement  wherein  a  squadron  of  the  First  Maine  Cavalry,  supported 

74 


1 170  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

by  the  Tenth  New  York,  as  a  reserve,  was  to  move  rapidly  away  at  a  right  angle 
from  our  general  course,  charge  the  enemy  if  they  found  them  and  make  a 
demonstration  of  force  entirely  at  variance  with  our  real  purpose;  and  how, 
when  after  dark  and  a  weary  and  lonely  ride,  accompanied  only  by  my  faith- 
ful orderly,  expecting  any  moment  I  might  be  "  bushwhacked,"  I  found  the 
general  and  reported  results,  he  exclaimed  with  visible  signs  of  feeling,  "  Thank 
God!  a  faithful  officer  and  his  command  are  saved  to  us;  I  expected  they  would 
all  be  on  their  way  to  Libby  Prison  by  this  time."  But  the  feint  had  served 
its  purpose,  the  enemy  was  thoroughly  fooled,  and  the  command  went  on  its 
way  unmolested.  You,  my  friends,  some  of  whom  were  in  the  support  and 
felt  the  sting  of  Rebel  bullets,  for  the  Tenth  had  men  killed  and  wounded  that 
afternoon,  (indeed  it  was  the  first  time  it  had  been  my  misfortune  to  see  a  Tenth 
New  York  man  killed  in  action)  did  not  know  then  and  probably  until  to-night 
never  knew  why  you  were  put  into  that  fight  with  a  whole  brigade  of  Rebel 
cavalry.  The  success  of  the  "  Stoneman  raid,"  as  it  has  been  called  in  history, 
depended  upon  your  making  the  enemy  believe  they  were  to  be  attacked  at 
Charlottesville,  wiiereas  the  stafif  knew  our  destination  was  Richmond,  ,if  pos- 
sible, or  as  near  it  as  might  be. 

Stafif  duty,  too,  has  its  compensations,  as  for  instance,  no  picket  duty,  no 
company  horses  to  look  after,  and  many  other  easements  that  make  a  silver 
lining  to  the  cloud.  The  stafif  ofificer  knows  a  great  deal  more  about  what 'is 
going  on  than  he  of  the  line  or  the  field  when  on  regimental  duty.  Then,  too, 
on  grand  reviews,  who  has  not  seen  the  gaily  caparisoned  Sunday-go-to-meet- 
ing dressed  staff  officer  dashing  about  over  the  field  as  full  of  importance,  per- 
haps, in  his  own  conceit,  as  the  commanding  or  reviewing  officer.  Wait  a  mo- 
ment! Methinks  I  recall  an  incident  of  that  kind  when  on  a  memorable  day  in 
the  spring  of  1863,  President  Lincoln  stood  on  the  field  of  Falmouth  scanning 
the  finest  cavalry  parade  ever  made  in  America,  and  in  obedience  to  a  word  from 
the  general  at  his  side,  a  certain  stafif  ofiScer  dashed  with  lightning  speed  to 
deliver  an  order  to  Kilpatrick,  and  had  scarcely  gone  the  length  of  a  company 
front  when  his  horse  turned  a  somersault,  landing  said  staff  officer  up  to  his 
neck  in  a  bottomless  mud-hole.    Ah,  yes,  staff  duty  has  its  compensation. 

To  conclude,  without  a  faithful  and  well-trained  staff  no  general,  however 
great,  can  succeed.  No  fact  in  military  art  was  more  clearly  demonstrated 
than  this  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  Having  laid  aside  the  weapons  of  offense, 
never  again  to  resume  them  we  hope,  it  becomes  our  duty  as  citizens  of  these 
re-United  States,  to  lend  the  aid  of  our  influence  to  all  reasonable  measures 
undertaken  to  educate  young  men  in  a  knowledge  of  such  military  duties 
as  we  had  to  learn  by  experience  in  the  face  of  real  danger,  to  the  end  that  if 
the  emergency  ever  again  arises,  as  arise  it  surely  will,  the  American  soldier 
may  have  an  at  least  partial  preparation  for  the  duty  of  national  defence,  and 
the  commanders  may  not  be  wholly  dependent,  as  they  were  in  1861,  upon  the 
staff  ofiEcers  who  knew  absolutely  nothing  of  the  duties.  Let  us  as  citizens 
impress  it,  so  far  as  in  us  lies  upon  our  legislators,  that  in  view  of  future  pos- 
sibilities and  necessities,  the  American  army  should  be  like  the  sleeping  lion, — 
full  of  conscious  strength,  because  every  arm  and  muscle  has  been  trained  to 
do  its  full  duty  whenever  the  necessity  arises. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1171 


REMARKS  BY  MAJ.  GEN.  DAVID  M.  GREGG. 

Mr.  Chairman,  and  my  old  Comrades  of  the  Tenth  New  York: 

I  will  embrace  the  opportunity,  offered  by  your  kind  and  flattering  recog- 
nition of  my  presence,  of  expressing  my  great  happiness  at  having  this  day 
been  permitted  to  grasp  in  friendship  the  hands  of  so  many  old  comrades.  I 
say  great  happiness,  and  I  know  of  none  that  could  be  greater  for  an  old 
soldier  than  to  meet  his  fellows  as  we  have  met  to-day. 

What  a  grand  regiment  you  represent,  and  what  a  noble  record  it  made  in 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion!  I  think  I  may  assume  to  speak  of  the  character 
and  standing  of  the  Tenth  New  York,  for  it  served  under  my  command  for 
more  than  two  years.  What  recollections  ccwne  to  me  as  I  look  in  your  faces! 
I  can  see  again  your  cai*p  at  Belle  Plain,  near  my  headquarters,  occupied  by 
you  in  the  winter  of  '62  and  '63,  your  old  comrades,  the  brave  and  courteous 
Colonel  Irvine,  and  the  younger,  but  gallant  Avery. 

I  can  see  the  Tenth  in  its  place  in  the  column  on  our  long  and  weary  marches, 
whether  in  the  heat  and  dust  of  summer,  or  the  ice  and  cold  of  winter,  on  the 
picket  line,  or  in  its  place  in  column  or  line  in  the  many  battles  or  skirmishes 
in  which  the  Second  Cavalry  Division  participated. 

The  Tenth  was  the  equal  of  the  other  regiments  of  the  division  which  I  had 
the  honor  to  command,  and  no  higher  compliment  than  this  could  be  paid  it. 
All  were  alike  good.  It  was  a  regiment  that  was  always  available  for  any  ser- 
vice that  was  undertaken.  You  are  justly  proud  that  you  were  Union  soldiers 
in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  that  you  served  in  the  Tenth  New  York 
Cavalry.    I  am  proud  of  your  service  in  the  Second  Division. 

My  comrades,  we  often  hear  it  said,  "  Let  the  dead  past  be  buried."  Well, 
as  applied  to  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  we  are  fully  agreed  that  this  should 
be  so  as  regards  any  animosities  that  sprang  out  of  it.  But  no  true  soldier  can 
divest  himself  of  his  memories  and  recollections.  He  cannot  forget  his  own 
experiences;  the  excitement  of  battle;  the  ringing  cheers  when  victory  declared 
for  us;  or  the  defiant  mutterings  when  defeat  overtook  us;  the  friendships 
which  men  formed;  the  old  songs  and  camp  stories;  the  noble  dead,  some  of 
whom  fell  at  his  side  and  were  lowered  into  their  honored  grave  by  his  hands. 
Oh,  no!  so  long  as  reason  remains  enthroned,  and  memory  holds  its  sway, 
their  precious  memory  will  live. 

At  this  time  of  great  excitement  because  of  an  approaching  national  election, 
how  refreshing  it  is  to  see  such  an  assemblage  as  this,  composed  as  it  is  of 
men  who  are  not  here  in  consequence  of  what  they  propose  to  do  for  their 
country  in  protecting  it  against  imaginary  or  pretended  ills,  but  of  men,  who 
a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  when  their  country  was  in  danger  of  destruction 
at  the  hands  of  armed  enemies,  swore  that  they  would  save  it  at  the  cost  of 
their  lives.  How  well  they  kept  their  oaths,  let  the  present  happy  and  prosper- 
ous condition  of  the  country  answer. 

Let  me  conclude,  as  I  began,  by  reiterating  how  happy  I  have  been  made 
by  this  meeting.  It  is  not  probable  that  I  shall  ever  again  be  permitted  to 
meet  you  collectively,  but  I  do  trust  that  from  time  to  time  it  may  be  my  good 


1 1 72  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

fortune  to  meet  you  individually.  Be  assured  that  in  such  meetings  I  shall 
always  have  great  pleasure,  for  the  ties  that  bind  me  to  the  old  soldiers  of  the 
Second  Cavalry  Division  are  only  next  to  those  that  bind  me  to  my  immediate 
kindred. 


REMARKS  OF  CHAPLAIN  JOSEPH  H,  BRADLEY. 
Comrades: 

I  am  pleased  to  have  this  opportunity,  the  first  since  the  close  of  the  war,  to 
meet  you  in  an  annual  reunion.  I  take  this  occasion  to  express  what  I  have 
always  and  deeply  felt,  that  it  was  a  privilege  to  have  belonged  to  the  Tenth 
New  York  Cavalry.  No  chaplain  could  possibly  bear  in  his  heart  more 
pleasant  remembrances  of  his  service  than  I  do.  My  relations  with  you  all 
were  peculiarly  agreeable,  and  are  not  marred  by  the  remembrance  of  a  single 
painful  experience  in  my  personal  relations  with  any  member  of  the  regiment. 
The  memory  of  our  departed  comrades  is  tenderly  cherished  when  I  recall 
the  names  of  Avery,  Blynn,  and  Sceva,  with  whom  I  was  more  particularly 
associated  as  commanders. 

We  had  a  grand  regiment  and  commanders  of  whom  we  all  are  proud.  And 
here,  in  the  presence  of  our  beloved  division  leader,  Maj.  Gen.  D.  M.  Gregg, 
I  am  glad  to  have  the  privilege  of  testifying  our  esteem.  I  am  expressing  our 
united  sentiment  in  saying  we  appreciate  his  kindness  in  coming  to  meet 
with  us  once  again.  We  were  favored  in  having  had  him  to  lead  us,  and  I 
now  assure  him  of  the  perfect  and  special  confidence  we  ever  reposed  in  his 
faithful  care.  We  always  felt  to  the  fullest  extent  that  all  was  well  when  he  led; 
that  whenever  he  went  with  us  on  the  march  or  carried  us  in  the  fight,  he  would 
bring  us  through  and  out  again  with  a  true  soldier's  judgment  and  a  rare 
discretion;  and  that  no  interest  would  be  sacrificed  when  he  was  on  the  field. 

Not  many  of  us  achieved  individual  renown.  Our  names  are  not  in  song 
and  story,  but  we  have  a  part  and  a  lasting,  live  interest,  nevertheless,  in  the 
glory  of  those  whom  the  world  knows  as  the  heroes  of  the  war  of  the  Union. 
Without  us, —  without  the  loyalty  and  patriotic  faithfulness  of  the  masses  of 
the  armies,  their  chiefs  could  have  done  little.  We  helped  in  all  which  was 
done.    So  their  glory  is  our  also. 

And  these  monuments  which  we  have  seen  to-day  scattered  over  this  notable 
field  of  battle, —  whose  are  they?  We  have  put  up  one  of  them  to-day.  But 
we  would  have  had  little  to  celebrate  if  we  had  been  alone.  Because  we  were 
one  regiment  among  many  we  were  able  to  stand  up  in  the  fight.  Then  to  others 
also  belongs  a  share  in  the  honors  of  this,  our  monument,  and  for  a  like 
reason  we  claim  a  share  in  all  these  monuments.  They  are  all  ours;  and  ours 
is  theirs. 

We  have  a  noble  inheritance  as  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Let  us 
be  proud  of  it.  Our  country  —  whole  and  united,  peaceful  and  prosperous, 
is  the  fruit  of  the  toils  and  suflferings  of  her  soldiers.  Comrades,  let  us  main- 
tain these  honors;  let  us  with  our  whole  heart  and  hand  live  and  work  in  the 
present  and  future  as  in  the  past,  both  that  we  may  be  proud  of  the  country 
we  have  saved,  and  that  our  country  may  Imve  reason  to  be  proud  of  us. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  ii73 

HISTORICAL  ADDRESS. 

By  Col.  Noble  D.  Preston. 
Comrades: 

This  regiment  was  organized  with  two  battalions,  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  from 
September  to  December,  1861.  It  was  called  the  "  Porter  Guards,"  in  honor 
of  Col.  Peter  B.  Porter,  of  Niagara  Falls. 

The  opposition  to  the  use  of  cavalry  in  prosecuting  the  war,  which  was  mani- 
fested about  this  time,  caused  the  disbanding  of  the  Morgan  Cavalry,  at  the 
Elmira  rendezvous,  and  the  few  men  who  had  enrolled  their  names  for  that 
regiment  enlisted  in  the  Porter  Guards.  It  was  designated  as  the  Tenth  New 
York  Cavalry  on  the  12th  of  December,  1861.  The  following  constituted  the 
field  and  staff: 

Colonel,  John  C.  Lemmon;  lieutenant  colonel,  William  Irvine;  major  first 
battalion,  M.  Henry  Avery;  major  second  battalion,  John  H.  Kemper;  acting 
adjutant,  William  C.  Potter;  adjutant  first  battalion,  James  F.  Fitts;  adjutant 
second  battalion,  William  L.  Lemmon;  acting  regimental  quartermaster,  Henry 
Field;  acting  quartermaster  first  battalion,  Benjamin  F.  Sceva;  acting  quarter- 
master second  battalion,  Luther  L.  Barney;  surgeon,  Roger  W.  Pease;  chaplain, 
Rev.  Robert  Day. 

An  excellent  band,  of  ten  pieces,  was  attached  to  the  regiment. 

The  regiment,  numbering  30  officers  and  735  enUsted  men,  left  the  Elmira 
depot  for  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  Christmas  eve,  1861.  It  arrived  there  the  next  night 
and  was  encamped  in  the  halls,  schoolhouses,  etc.,  until  barracks  were  erected, 
when  it  moved  into  them.  The  men  were  instructed  in  the  use  of  the  sabre 
and  dismounted  movements  of  a  regiment,  on  ground  near  which  they  met  the 
enemy,  eighteen  months  later. 

The  regiment  left  Gettysburg  for  Perryville,  Md.,  on  the  7th  of  March,  1862, 
where  it  arrived  the  next  day.  On  the  26th  of  the  same  month  headquarters 
were  transferred  to  Havre  de  Grace,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Susquehanna 
River.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  guarding  of  the  P.  W.  &  B.  R.  R., 
and  thence  to  Baltimore. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  Company  A  guarding  the  bridge  over  Back  River,  near 
Baltimore,  made  an  important  capture  of  a  schooner  laden  with  recruits  and 
material  for  the  Southern  Confederacy.  Regimental  headquarters  were  trans- 
ferred to  Patterson  Park,  Baltimore,  on  the  25th  of  June,  where  the  regiment 
was  quartered,  except  Companies  A,  C,  and  G,  which  remained  to  guard  the 
important  bridges  on  the  line  of  the  P.  W.  &  B.  R.  R. 

Horses  and  equipments  were  issued  to  the  regiment  while  here,  and  on  the 
15th  of  August  it  marched  to  Washington  and  encamped  near  Bladensburg, 
where  it  received  its  full  complement  of  horses  and  arms.  From  this  point  a 
detail  was  sent  to  New  York  State  to  recruit  a  third  battalion.  Companies  I, 
K,  and  L,  of  the  new  battalion,  joined  the  old  organization  in  the  field  at 
Brooke's  Station,  Va.,  December  5,  1862,  and  Company  M  joined  at  Camp 
Bayard,  near  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  about  a  month  later. 


1 1 74  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  regiment  had  served  in  Brig.  Gen.  George  D.  Bayard's  brigade  up  to 
the  time  of  the  death  of  that  gallant  officer  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  De- 
cember 13,  1862. 

On  the  organization  of  the  Cavalry  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  in 
the  spring  of  1863,  the  Tenth  was  brigaded  with  the  First  Maine  and  Second 
New  York  (Harris  Light)  cavalry  regiments,  commanded  by  Col.  Judson 
Kilpatrick,  of  the  latter  regiment,  the  division  — the  Third  —  being  com- 
manded by  Brig.  Gen.  D.  McM.  Gregg.  This  brigade  achieved  a  reputation 
for  dash  and  gallantry  which  it  maintained  while  the  organization  continued. 

During  the  winter  of  1862-63  and  early  spring  of  1863,  the  regiment  par- 
ticipated in  picketing  and  scouting  in  the  "  Northern  Neck  "  Peninsula,  King 
George  County,  Va.,  until  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign  of  1863.  It 
accompanied  the  Cavalry  Corps  under  Stoneman  on  the  raid  to  the  rear  of 
the  Confederate  army  during  the  Chancellorsville  battle,  and  did  vaUant  ser- 
vice in  that  arduous  but  futile  expedition. 

In  the  first  great  cavalry  engagement  of  the  war.  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  June 
9,  1863,  the  Tenth  bore  a  conspicuous  part  and  suffered  severe  losses,  losing 
among  its  commissioned  officers  Lieutenant  Colonel  Irvine,  taken  prisoner. 
Its  gallantry  was  recognized  and  mentioned  in  orders.  _  The  loss  in  the  regiment 
in  this  conflict  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  was  100. 

After  this  brilliant  passage  at  arms,  the  Cavalry  Corps  was  reorganized.  The 
Tenth  became  a  part  of  the  Third  Brigade  of  the  Second  Cavalry  Division, 
with  Brig.  Gen.  D.  McM.  Gregg  retained  as  division  commander.  Col.  J. 
Irvin  Gregg,  of  the  Sixteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  was  made  brigade  com- 
mander. 

Then  followed  the  Gettysburg  campaign,  with  the  cavalry  engagements  at 
Aldie,  Middleburg,  and  Upperville,  Va.,  while  moving  northward,  which  gave 
additional  lustre  to  our  cavalry  arms.  In  each  of  these  the  Tenth  bore  a  promi- 
nent part,  suffering  a  severe  loss  at  Middleburg. 

Gettysburg  was  reached  and  position  taken  by  the  regiment  on  the  right 
flank  at  2  p.  m.,  July  2,  1863.  It  was  the  first  cavalry  regiment  to  meet  the 
enemy  on  the  right  flank,  and  it  was  almost  constantly  engaged  in  part  or 
whole,  until  the  Confederates  fell  back.  Gregg's  Brigade,  of  which  the  Tenth 
formed  a  part,  was  held  in  reserve,  during  the  battle  of  the  3d  of  July,  but  lost 
several  men,  wounded,  nevertheless.  Its  loss  during  the  two  days  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners,  was  17. 

On  the  4th  of  July  the  regiment  passed  through  the  streets  made  familiar 
by  its  stay  in  the  village  in  tlie  winter  of  1861-62,  and  out  on  the  Chambersburg 
Road  in  pursuit  of  the  Confederates.  On  the  14th  of  July,  Gregg's  Division 
crossed  the  Potomac  River  at  Harper's  Ferry,  the  first  troops  from  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  to  again  tread  Virginia  soil.  On  the  i6th  of  the  same  month 
it  was  attacked  by  a  superior  force  at  Shepherdstown,  Va.,  and  the  battle  con- 
tinued late  into  the  night,  when  Gregg  adroitly  withdrew  from  his  delicate 
position.  The  Tenth  bore  the  first  shock  of  the  battle  and  covered  the  retreat, 
besides  doing  excellent  service  during  the  battle. 

The  next  serious  meeting  with  the  enemy  was  at  Sulphur  Springs,  October 
12,  1863,  when  Gregg  attempted  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  Rappahannock 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1175 

at  that  place  by  the  Confederate  army.  It  was  a  bold  move  and  a  vigorous 
effort,  but  the  Confederates  greatly  outnumbered  him.  The  Tenth,  which  had 
been  sent  across  to  the  south  side  of  the  river  early  in  the  day,  developed  the 
advance  of  Lee's  army,  and  lost  heavily  in  the  engagement  and  retreat  which 
followed.  Two  days  later,  the  14th,  the  same  troops  were  encountered  at  Au- 
burn, Va.,  where  a  brisk,  early  morning  engagement  took  place,  the  Tenth 
again  meeting  with  considerable  loss.  And  again,  on  the  evening  of  the  same 
day  at  Bristoe  Station,  it  skirmished  with  them.  When  the  Confederate  army 
fell  back  the  Tenth  was  in  close  pursuit  back  to  the  Rappahannock  River. 

In  an  encounter  at  Grove  Church,  Va.,  a  detachment  from  the  regiment  had 
a  skirmish  and  lost  a  number  of  men  taken  prisoners.  In  the  Mine  Run  cam- 
paign, November  and  December,  1863,  the  regiment  saw  active  and  severe 
service.  Winter  was  passed  by  the  Tenth  in  comfortable  quarters  at  Turkey 
Run,  near  Warrenton,  Va.  While  here  three-quarters  of  the  men  re-enlisted 
and  returned  to  New  York  State  on  furlough. 

Some  skirmishing  and  scouting  before  the  spring  campaign  resulted  in  slight 
losses.  In  the  reorganization  of  the  army  in  the  spring  of  1864,  the  Second 
Cavalry  Division  retained  its  brigade  and  division  commanders.  Under  the 
new  corps  commander.  Gen.  P.  H.  Sheridan,  vigorous  work  was  in  store  for 
the  cavalry.  The  Tenth  bore  well  its  part  in  all  the  hard-fought  battles  which 
followed,  opening  with  several  days  in  the  Wilderness,  or  Todd's  Tavern;  the 
raid  to  Richmond  extending  from  the  9th  to  the  25th  of  May,  a  march  replete 
with  desperate  fighting  and  exhaustive  marches.  Anderson's  Ford,  Ground 
Squirrel  Bridge,  Fortifications  of  Richmond,  etc.,  were  included. 

On  returning  to  the  army,  Gregg's  Division  was  sent  to  Hawes'  Shop,  on 
the  28th  of  May,  where  it  met  the  entire  Confederate  Cavalry  Corps,  in  one  of 
the  most  stubbornly-contested  cavalry  engagements  of  the  war.  Here  the 
Tenth,  fighting  dismounted,  did  valiant  service,  sustaining  a  greater  loss  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners  than  any  other  regiment  in  the  division.  The 
victory  was  with  Gregg  after  an  all  day's  contest.  Cold  Harbor  followed,  with 
but  slight  loss  in  the  regiment,  on  the  ist  of  June.  Picket  and  skirmishing 
continued  until  the  6th  of  June,  when  the  Cavalry  Corps  started  out  on  the 
"  Trevilian  Raid."  The  march  to  and  from  Trevilian  Station  was  one  continu- 
ous skirmish. 

The  battle  of  Trevilian  Station,  June  .nth  and  12th,  gave  the  regiment  an 
opportunity  to  again  display  its  fighting  qualities,  and  it  acquitted  itself  most 
creditably.  Its  loss  was  severe  for  the  short  space  of  time  actually  engaged. 
On  the  return  to  White  House,  Va.,  brisk  skirmishing  ensued  on  the  20th  of 
June,  in  which  several  men  were  wounded  in  the  Tenth. 

While  guarding  the  wagon  trains  of  the  a^my  from  White  House  to  James 
River,  Gregg's  Division  was  viciously  assailed  at  St.  Mary's  Church,  June  24th, 
and  the  division  was  thrown  into  considerable  confusion,  the  Confederates 
hoping  by  their  largely  superior  force  to  destroy  it  before  assistance  could  be 
brought  up.  They  were  foiled  in  the  attempt,  however,  though  the  fighting 
was  desperate  and  the  losses  heavy.  Although  the  Tenth  had  become  greatly 
reduced  in  numbers  prior  to  the  battle,  its  loss  was  22  officers  and  enlisted  men. 
After  crossing  the  James  River  the  Tenth  encamped  near  Fort  Powhatan,  re- 


1 176  New  York  "at  Gettysburg. 

maining  in  that  vicinity,  doing  picket  and  scouting  duty  until  the  latter  part 
of  July,  when  It  was  engaged  in  a  severe  skirmish  at  Lee's  Mills,  Va.,  where 
it  lost  several  men. 

Then  followed  minor  contests,  Deep  Bottom,  Va.,  August  14th;  Reams' 
Station,  Va.,  August  23d;  Poplar  Springs  Church,  October  ist  and  2d,  where 
the  loss  was  considerable  and  the  fighting  determined;  Boydton  Plank  Road, 
October  27th  and  28th;  Prince  George  Court  House,  October  30th;  Blackwater 
Creek,  November  i8th;  a  hard-fought  battle  at  Stony  Creek,  December  ist 
and  2d;  Three  Creeks,  December  9th,  and  Jarrett's  Station,  December  10, 
1864.  Dinwiddle  Court  House,  February  sth,  was  followed  by  Hatcher's  Run 
the  next  day,  where  Lieutenant  Colonel  Tremain,  of  the  Tenth,  was  mortally 
wounded. 

The  second  Dinwiddle  Court  House  fight  was  a  severe  one,  the  regiment 
losing  17  men  out  of  about  100;  Five  Forks,  April  ist,  and  then  Sailor's  Creek, 
where  so  much  glory  and  enthusiasm  prevailed  that  the  men  seemed  to  forget 
the  great  physical  strain  they  were  under  and  the  hard  fighting  they  were  doing; 
Farmville,  April  7th,  and  the  closing  of  the  great  struggle  at  Appomattox 
Court  House,  April  9th.  The  return  march  to  Petersburg  followed,  where 
the  regiment  remained  in  camp  a  short  time  before  proceeding  to  Washington 
overland.  The  brigade  was  commanded  by  Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  M.  H.  Avery, 
colonel  of  the  Tenth  New  York  Cavalry.  The  regiment  participated  in  the 
Grand  Review  at  Washington  on  the  23d  of  May. 

By  an  order  of  the  War  Department,  dated  June  17,  1865,  the  Tenth  and 
Twenty-fourth  New  York  Cavalry  Regiments  were  consolidated,  and  the  new 
organization  designated  the  First  New  York  Provisional  Cavalry,  with  M.  H. 
Avery  as  colonel.  This  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.,  August  3  and  4,  1865.  The  losses  in  the  Tenth  New  York  Cavalry 
during  its  entire  term  of  service  were  as  follows: 

Killed  in  action 

Wounded 

Captured 


Its  record  of  engagements  participated  in,  cover  every  battle  in  which  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  fought,  from  the  time  the  regiment  crossed  the  Potomac 
River  into  Virginia  to  the  close  of  the  war,  besides  many  purely  cavalry  en- 
gagements and  skirmishes. 

The  number  of  officers  commissioned  and  mustered  in  from  first  to  last 
numbered  154,  and  the  number  of  men  enrolled  was  2,101.  Of  this  number 
however,  quite  a  large  number  were  enlistments  and  conscripts  near  the  close 
of  the  war.  During  the  active  campaigns  of  1863  and  1864,  its  number,  for 
duty,  was  frequently  reduced  to  from  75  to  250  men.  Its  record  for  excellent 
service  is  second  to  no  organization  sent  out  by  the  great  Empire  State,  to  aid 
in  suppressing  the  Rebellion. 


Officers. 

Enlisted 
men. 

Total. 

5 
23 

54 
228 

59 
251 

13 

214 

227 

41 

496 

537 

New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1 177 

^INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 
BATTERY  B, 

1st 
NEW  YORK 

LIGHT 

ARTILLERY. 

ARTILLERY 

BRIGADE, 

2d   corps. 

(Reverse.) 

Position  held 

afternoon  of 

July  3,  1863. 

Casualties 

Killed  10 

Wounded  16. 

(Right  Side.) 

Mustered 

into  service 

Aug.  31,  1861. 

Participated 

IN  78  days 

OF  battle 

Mustered  out 

OF  service 

June  18,  1865. 

(Left  Side.) 

Organized 

AT 

Baldwinsville 

Onondaga  Co. 

New  York. 


1 1 78  New  York  at  Gettysbueo, 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

BATTERY  B  —  "  PETTIT'S." 

FIRST  REGIMENT  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

July  3,  1888. 

Address  of  Rev.  W.  O.  Beauchamp. 

When  the  Mexican  War  began  I  was  a  school-boy,  and  as  I  read  the  ac- 
counts of  battles  fought  and  won,  two  branches  of  the  army  made  a  great 
impression  upon  my  youthful  mind.  For  a  fair,  stand-up  fight,  for  an  assault 
on  city  walls  or  rocky  heights,  I  saw  the  advantage  of  infantry.  Certain  things 
could  not  be  done  without  them.  Monterey  and  Chapultepec  showed  their 
dash  and  valor;  Buena  Vista  their  endurance.  But  my  first  vision  of  that  war 
was  of  the  cavalry  captain.  May,  his  long  hair  and  beard  streaming  in  the 
wind  as  he  charged  over  the  Mexican  guns;  and  my  next  of  the  flying  artillery, 
now  on  this,  now  on  that  wing  of  the  army,  hurling  destruction  and  death 
wherever  it  came.  It  could  not  then  occur  to  me  that  I  should  long  and  in- 
timately know  one  who  served  through  that  unequal  but  successful  struggle, 
and  one  whose  experience  and  skill  were  to  give  us  one  of  the  most  famous 
batteries  of  our  later  Civil  War.  Battery  B  is  indeed  its  true  army  designa- 
tion on  the  muster-roll  and  monument;  but  with  many  it  will  always  be  as- 
sociated with  its  first  leader,  and  be  known  as  Pettit's  Battery  still. 

While  this  recalls  its  organizer  and  Ifeader,  its  registered  name  reveals  the 
quickness  with  which  its  men  responded  to  the  call  to  arms.  It  was  of  the 
First  Regiment  of  New  York  Light  Artillery;  it  was  Battery  B  of  that  regi- 
ment. Raised  in  the  county  where  most  of  my  life  has  been  passed,  and  in 
the  village  where  I  have  lived  ever  since  the  war  ended,  it  was  mainly  com- 
posed of  Onondaga  men.  Mustered  into  the  State  service  at  Baldwinsville, 
August  24,  1861,  just  one  week  later  it  was  received  into  that  of  the  United 
States  at  Elmira.  The  first  of  our  volunteer  batteries  to  be  fully  mounted,  it 
served  efficiently  for  nearly  four  years,  being  mustered  out  June  18,  1865.  It 
was  always  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  in  two  years  and  a  half  fought 
in  twenty-two  engagements,  some  of  them  of  several  days'  duration.  In  more 
than  half  of  these  Captain  Pettit  commanded;  and  the  fortune  of  war,  before 
and  after  his  resignation,  brought  many  changes  to  rank  and  file. 

A  small  addition  of  brave  and  tried  soldiers  was  made  from  the  Fourteenth 
New  York  Battery  in  1863,  and  other  men  came  in  at  various  times.  This 
was  a  natural  result  of  hard  fighting  and  many  losses.  The  engagements  in- 
cluded seventy-eight  days  of  actual  battle,  encouraging  or  the  reverse,  before 
and  after  Gettysburg;  but  in  scenes  of  success  or  disaster,  in  many  and  severe 
trials  of  discipline,  courage,  and  skill,  it  did  much  in  making  a  reputation  for 
the  volunteer  artillery,  which  was  not  at  first  highly  estimated  by  general  offi- 
cers of  the  regular  army.  They  well  knew  that  it  required  good  drill  to  make 
artillery  effective;  that  it  needed  wise  teaching  to  learn  how  best  to  use  shot 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1179 

and  shell.  Courage  was  not  enough.  Scientific  principles  and  good  judg- 
ment were  absolutely  needed.  That  all  right  qualifications  could  be  found  in 
new  batteries  was  not  to  be  supposed. 

The  result  merely  proved  how  men  of  experience  may  sometimes  be  mis- 
taken. The  American  mind  readily  adapts  itself  to  circumstances  under  wise 
direction,  and  those  high  in  rank  soon  saw  their  error.  A  battery  to  be 
relied  upon  in  all  emergencies,  one  that  never  failed  to  do  its  work  well,  one 
that  never  fell  back  without  orders,  had  an  inspiring  effect  on  all  around,  and 
was  a  treasure  to  any  commander.  In  no  long  time  did  prejudice  disappear, 
and  the  skillful  artillerists  and  their  fearless  commander  had  due  praise.  It 
was  the  natural  result  of  common-sense  training  on  brave  and  intelligent  men. 
Each  one  understood,  not  only  what  to  do,  but  why.  If  one  fell  at  his  post, 
another  was  competent  to  take  his  place,  and  if  the  losses  were  deeply  felt 
they  were  not  disastrous.  It  is  the  present  testimony  of  the  first  commander 
of  Pettit's  Battery,  that  there  were  men  in  his  company  as  cool  and  brave  as 
any  in  the  army.  He  could  safely  tell  a  general  officer  that  they  would  not 
run  until  he  did,  and  that  never  happened. 

Some  here  may  remember  the  first  target  practice  at  Washington,  with  two 
smooth  bore  cannon,  and  the  firing  of  a  regular  battery  at  the  same  mark  with 
rifled  guns,  with  the  results  of  each.  It  was  but  the  beginning  of  a  splendid 
career,  which  soon  attracted  universal  attention.  For  deliberate  firing  and 
precise  aim,  Pettit's  Battery  soon  became  famous.  Whether  it  were  a  salute 
or  a  battle,  it  was  all  the  same.  The  men  understood  their  work  and  did  it 
well. 

It  is  a  matter  of  record  that  this  was  a  surprise  to  veteran  artillerists  and 
others.  General  Howard  feared  that  men  who  were  allowed  to  pick  their  way 
on  a  muddy  but  peaceful  march  would  not  act  unitedly  in  the  field,  but  he 
had  only  to  give  them  a  chance,  to  remove  his  doubts.  The  hour  of  battle 
told  the  whole  story,  and  those  who  had  been  treated  well,  fought  well. 

In  Walker's  "  History  of  the  Second  Army  Corps,"  there  are  several  ref- 
erences to  this  feeling.  In  speaking -of  the  new  spirit  infused  into  the  artillery 
by  Hooker  when  he  took  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  he  says,  that 
then,  "  The  artillery  was  carried  to  a  pitch  of  perfection  in  all  exercises  never 
before  thought  of.  Our  volunteer  gunners  had,  indeed,  from  the  first  been 
wonderfully  expert;  but  it  is  not  merely  shooting  straight  on  certain  occasions 
which  makes  a  battery  useful."  After  specifying  some  of  these  needs,  he  adds, 
"There  were  a  hundred  exigencies  with  artillery,  beyond  those  known  to  in- 
fantry, which  render  first-class  training  and  discipline  enormously  profitable  in  a 
campaign.  Under  Hooker,  for  the  first  time,  the  differences  between  regular 
and  volunteers  ceased  to  exist  so  far  as  this  arm  of  the  service  was  concerned. 
Up  to  that  time,  notwithstanding  the  rare  excellence  of  certain  batteries  like 
Hazard's,  Arnold's  and  Pettit's,  with  their  peerless  gunners,  that  difference  was 
still  perceptible,  clearly  so  at  the  beginning  of  a  campaign,  and  more  so  at  the 
close  of  one.  Under  Hooker  it  ceased  and  disappeared  entirely.  Amid  the  forty- 
eight  guns  which  formed  the  battery  of  the  Second  Corps  in  April,  1863,  no 
eye,  however  skilled,  could  discern  which  belonged  to  regular  and  which  to 
volunteer  batteries." 


ii8o  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Of  Battery  B,  at  Falmouth,  when  it  drove  the  Confederates  from  their  guns 
on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  the  same  writer  says,  that  Pettit  "  had  can- 
noneers who  could  hardly  be  matched  in  any  battery  of  the  regular  army." 
I  may  add  that  their  commander  appreciated  them,  but  I  can  conceive  the 
vexation  with  which  he  and  his  men  saw  those  deserted  guns  silently  disappear, 
one  after  another,  while  the  river  flowed  steadily  on  between. 

Your  minds  will  recall  exciting  episodes  of  battle  in  many  places.  It  was 
not  a  pleasant  spot  to  be  in  at  Chancellorsville,  however  stirring  the  work, 
when  assailed  by  cannon  on  every  side.  We  do  not  care  to  remember  Burn- 
side's  disastrous  fight  at  Fredericksburg,  and  there  were  other  equally  heroic 
struggles  which  brought  no  victory  to  our  arms.  In  these  the  battery  suf- 
fered in  varying  degrees.  The  first  man  was  killed  at  Antietam,  while  at 
Gettysburg,  27  men  were  killed  or  wounded.  This  was  tlie  greatest  loss  the 
battery  sustained  in  any  one  engagement,  and  certainly  the  largest  that  befell 
any  New  York  battery  in  this  battle.  Some  had  no  losses  at  all,  but  the 
aggregate  was  144  for  the  sixteen  New  York  organizations  on  the  whole  field. 
Of  these  but  twelve  lost  men,  while  your  killed  alone  numbered  11  against  14 
for  all  the  other  New  York  batteries. 

There  was  a  reason  for  this  in  your  situation,  here  and  near  Little  Round 
Top.  Hunt  says,  in  speaking  of  Pickett's  charge :  "  The  steady  fire  from  Mc- 
Gilvery  and  Rittenhouse  on  their  right,  caused  Pickett's  men  to  '  drift '  in  the 
opposite  direction,  so  that  the  weight  of  the  assault  fell  upon  the  positions 
occupied  by  Hazard's  batteries."  Had  you  been  well  supplied  with  long-range 
projectiles,  instead  of  having  to  reserve  your  fire  until  the  enemy  was  within 
canister  range,  he  expressly  says  that  he  does  "  not  believe  that  Pickett's  Divi- 
sion would  have  reached  our  lines."  The  men  and  guns  were  there,  but  the 
needed  ammunition  was  lacking.  Your  position  was  here  on  the  left  of  those 
placed  in  this  part  of  the  field.  Near  by  were  those  of  Brown,  Gushing,  and 
Arnold  on  the  ridge  above  us,  while  a  little  farther  north,  close  by  Ziegler's 
Grove,  was  stationed  Woodruff's  Battery.  Like  your  own.  Brown's  had  been 
to  the  front  on  the  2d,  had  been  severely  handled,  and  at  the  time  of  Pickett's 
charge  it  was  ordered  from  the  field.  Cowan's  New  York  Battery  taking  its 
place.  Even  before  the  great  charge  the  position  was  a  perilous  one,  and  it 
is  well  to  remember  what  spectators  have  said  of  those  who  were  too  busy  to 
see  all  that  was  going  on.  I  quote  again  from  Walker  on  this  great  artillery 
duel :  "  The  main  fury  of  the  cannonade  fell,  of  course,  upon  the  batteries 
of  the  Second  Corps,  occupying  the  ground  which  Longstreet's  columns  were 
even  now  forming  to  assault;  and  well  did  those  gallant  officers  and  men  stand 
in  their  place,  and  make  answer  that  day  for  their  cause.  The  volunteer 
batteries  of  Arnold,  Brown,  and  Rorty  (Pettit's)  vied  with  the  splendid  regular 
batteries  of  WoodrufT  and  Gushing  in  cool  bearing  and  scientific  precision  of 
fire.  Out  of  those  batteries  were  killed  250  horses,  and  men  fell  by  scores 
at  the  guns,  or  while  bringing  ammunition  up  through  a  literal  storm  of  shot 
and  shell.  But  not  a  cannoneer  left  his  post.  There  was  no  flurry  and  no 
fuss.  Monotonous  discharges  followed  the  command,  '  Number  one,  fire! 
Number  two,  fire!'  as  regularly  as  if  the  battery  were  saluting  an  inspecting 
officer." 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  ii8i 

I  can  understand  this,  for  I  have  known  both  officers  and  men  of  your  bat- 
tery, and  can  add  also,  that  their  courage  and  skill  have  only  been  equalled 
by  their  modesty.  It  is  very  easy  to  hear  about  them  from  others,  but  if  one 
wishes  to  know  their  personal  experience,  he  can  only  do  it  by  point-blank 
questions,  as  directly  aimed  as  their  own  balls.  It  was  not  a  retiring  battery 
in  the  strife,  but  may  be  called  very  retiring  when  its  own  deeds  are  in  question. 
It  volunteered  for  war  in  the  field,  but  has  little  to  do  in  the  war  of  words.  I 
am  only  sorry  that  on  this  historic  field  so  Httle  of  its  history  _can   be  given. 

By  a  curious  but  thoughtful  device  of  Captain  Pettit,  you  were  properly 
prepared  for  the  use  of  horses  before  they  were  furnished.  He  forgot  not  that 
you  were  Americans  by  birth  or  training,  and,  therefore,  intelligent  and  teach- 
able men.  So  in  showing  you  how  to  work  efficiently  he  remembered  to  tell 
you  why,  and  when  men  have  learned  principles  thoroughly,  they  apply  them 
readily.  He  understood  how  a  cool  demeanor  on  his  part  would  give  coolness 
to  others,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  your  steadiness  more  than  once 
prevented  a  disastrous  panic.  Nothing  is  more  terrible  than  to  have  brave 
men  figuratively  "  lose  their  heads,"  for  the  energy  of  courage  may  be  trans- 
formed into  the  energy  of  fear,  and  the  force  which  might  have  saved  becomes 
as  powerful  to  destroy.  In  the  calm  presence  of  tried  men  it  is  the  most  natural 
thing  in  the  world  for  others  to  say,  "  If  you  are  not  afraid  we  need  not  be." 
The  presence  of  one  man  may  rally  a  flying  host,  and  one  who  makes  haste 
slowly,  but  wisely  and  effectively,  may  give  force  and  precision  to  every  move- 
ment around.  I  have  always  valued  this  cool  effectiveness  highly,  and  have 
seen  many  instances  of  its  good  results.  Seldom  has  it  been  better  exemplified 
than  in  Pettit's  Battery.  It  did  not  pound  away  vigorously  and  accomplish 
nothing.  It  fired  with  no  uncertain  aim.  The  exact  direction  and  distance 
were  found,  the  exact  fuse  used,  and  the  explosion  came  at  the  right  place  and 
time.  If  this  took  a  few  moments  more  at  the  outset,  it  was  time  well  spent. 
One  ball  that  hits  the  mark  is  worth  a  dozen  that  go  astray.  So,  great  com- 
manders at  last  ceased  to  be  impatient.  They  learned,  by  trial,  that  when 
Pettit's  Battery  began  to  fire  something  was  sure  to  happen.  Even  the  rank 
and  file  knew  how  sure  and  deadly  was  its  aim,  and  lost  not  their  confidence 
while  it  was  by.  It  stopped  the  advance  of  the  enemy  on  many  a  bloody  field, 
silenced  batteries  where  others  had  failed,  and  gave  opportunities  for  move- 
ments that  could  not  have  been  performed  without  it. 

You  will  recall  that  incident  in  White  Oak  Swamp,  when  some  of  our  best 
batteries  were  disabled,  and  you  took  their  place.  Your  old  friends,  the  Irish 
Brigade,  cheered  as  you  came  in,  for  they  knew  you  would  soon  stop  the  balls 
and  railroad  iron  coming  from  the  Rebel  guns.  Captain  Pettit  lit  his  pipe  at  a 
smouldering  fire,  and  as  a  cannon  ball  passed  between  his  feet,  covering  him 
with  ashes,  promised  to  pay  the  enemy  for  it  — a  promise  quickly  fulfilled. 
Between  the  army  and  the  enemy  you  lay  that  night,  some  hardly  hoping  to 
see  you  again.  The  same  deliberate  preparation,  the  same  cheerful  aim  was 
seen  when,  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  Confederates  pushed,  a  heavy  gun  on  a  platform 
car  through  the  woods.  The  first  shot  disabled  the  engine,  and  then  there  was 
no  more  trouble  with  that  battery. 

Many  such  instances  could  be  related  of  a  coolness  that  was  never  disturbed, 
and  a  precisiofi  that  never  missed  its  object.    There  was  no  hesitation  in  meet- 


1 1 82  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

ing  danger,  and  into  the  hottest  of  the  fire  at  Chancellorsville  the  battery  went 
with  a  cheer,  though  return  seemed  impossible. 

Lee  turned  northward  with  swift  and  secret  movements,  left  the  old  battle- 
fields behind,  crossed  the  Potomac,  and  entered  Pennsylvania.  The  ablest  of 
the  Southern  generals,  trusted  by  all,  his  army  was  not  perplexed  by  those 
varying  counsels  which  so  often  changed  the  leadership  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  Yet  that  army  rallied  at  once,  and  marched  quickly  forth  to  meet 
the  foe.  How  and  where  he  was  found  has  now  become  a  matter  of  history, 
and  need  not  be  repeated.  July  ist,  saw  the  first  encounter  at  Gettysburg,  the 
opening  of  the  great  battle.  A  score  of  miles  away  was  Battery  B  when  the 
order  came  to  hasten  here,  and  the  forced  march  began.  Its  veteran  com- 
mander had  resigned,  leaving  it  under  Lieutenant  Sheldon,  but  a  welcome  rest 
had  placed  it  in  admirable  condition.  Its  horses  numbered  no  fine  animals, 
of  which  65  were  hit  before  the  fight  was  over,  and  all  its  equipments 
were  in  good  order.  But  the  way  was  long,  the  day  hot,  and  when  evening 
came  a  wheatfield  was  reached  behind  Little  Round  Top.  The  wearied  men 
threw  themselves  down,  glad  to  rest  anywhere.  There  was  no  call  for  camp 
comforts,  but  each  man  speedily  found  sleep  as  best  he  could.  So  the  night 
quickly  passed  away,  that  night  which  was  to  be  the  last  earthly  rest  of  many. 
Day  dawned,  and  the  preparations  for  battle  went  on;  but  hour  after  hour  passed 
quietly,  until  late  in  the  afternoon.  In  the  following  fight  near  the  Round 
Tops  that  day.  Battery  B  found  itself  in  a  spot  where  its  guns  could  not  be 
used  with  full  effect,  while  any  close  approach  of  the  enemy  might  prove  dis- 
astrous. A  worse  disaster  was  averted  by  its  own  intelligence  and  decision. 
Our  infantry  fell  back  in  parallel  lines  on  either  side,  appearing  like  opposing 
hosts,  and  for  such  some  mistook  them.  Not  so  your  gunners.  By  their 
coolness  and  decision  they  prevented  a  terrible  mistake,  and  in  time  to  prove 
their  wisdom  the  enemy  appeared  in  front,  giving  the  desired  mark  for  guns. 
At  that  critical  moment  a  deadly  discharge  of  any  part  of  our  artillery  upon 
our  own  infantry  might  have  lost  the  battle.  The  infantry  would  have  been 
shattered  and  disheartened,  the  enemy  would  have  profited  by  the  disorder,  the 
Round  Tops  would  have  doubtless  been  seized  by  them  and  a  vast  advantage 
gained.  To  the  intelligence  and  instant  action  of  officers  and  men  in  Battery 
B  is  due  more  of  the  successful  issue  at  Gettysburg  than  appears  on  the  page 
of  history.  Had  the  disaster  happened  it  never  would  have  been  forgotten. 
It  was  quietly  averted  and  no  one  received  praise.  Attracting  no  attention 
outside  of  a  small  body  of  men,  it  was  one  of  the  important  acts  of  a  great 
battle.  Other  noble  batteries  were  on  the  spot,  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  in- 
telligent Southern  soldiers  that  the  true  battle  was  there  fought.  When  they 
found  artillery  before  them  they  received  a  check  and  discouragement  from 
which  they  did  not  recover.  If  Gulp's  Hill  was  the  key  to  the  position  on  the 
north.  Little  Round  Top  certainly  was  on  the  south,  and  its  occupation  was 
the  precursor  of  victory. 

At  this  time  you  were  in  the  Artillery  Reserve,  but  returning  from  this  stub- 
bornly-contested ground  to  its  old  place  in  the  Second  Corps,  on  the  third 
day  Battery  B  found  itself  in  the  front  of  the  fight,  on  the  extreme  left  of  the 
corps,  and  where  it  was  exposed  to"  the  direct  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1183 

general  position  forming  the  objective  point  in  Pickett's  grand  charge.  Before 
it  was  a  low  wall,  protecting  some  of  our  infantry;  behind  it  other  lines  waited 
their  opportunity.  So  the  morning  here  wore  away  in  preparation  and  ex- 
pectation; a  morning  which  was  to  have  no  evening  for  thousands. 

The  striking  features  of  the  artillery  duel  which  preceded  Pickett's  charge 
have  been  so  well  described  by  officers  on  the  opposing  sides,  that  I  make  no 
apology  for  quoting  some  of  their  words.  Looking  from  his  post  in  the  right 
wing  of  the  Southern  army.  General  Law  said,  as  the  fire  opened :  "  The  can- 
nonade in  the  centre  soon  began,  and  presented  one  of  the  most  magnificent 
battle  scenes  witnessed  during  the  war.  Looking  up  the  valley  towards  Gettys- 
burg, the  hills  on  either  side  were  capped  with  crowns  of  flame  and  smoke, 
as  300  guns,  about  equally  divided  between  the  two  ridges,  vomited  their 
own  hail  upon  each  other.  Dense  clouds  of  smoke  settled  over  the  valley, 
through  which  the  shells  went  hissing  and  screaming  on  their  errand  of  death. 
Numbers  of  these  from  opposite  directions  exploded  midway  over  the  valley, 
apparently  with  venomous  impatience,  as  they  met  each  other  in  mid  air,  light- 
ing up  the  clouds  with  snake-light  flashes  of  lurid  lightning." 

Very  like  this  is  the  account  of  our  own  chief  of  artillery.  He  had  found 
things  in  good  condition  at  Gulp's  Hill,  and  went  to  Cemetery  Ridge  late  in 
the  morning  of  the  third.  "  Here  a  magnificent  display  greeted  my  eyes. 
Our  whole  front  for  two  miles  was  covered  with  batteries  already  in  line  or 
going  into  position.  They  stretched  apparently  in  one  unbroken  mass  from 
opposite  the  town  to  the  Peach  Orchard  which  bounded  the  view  to  the  left, 
the  ridges  of  which  were  planted  thick  with  cannon.  Never  before  had  such 
a  sight  been  witnessed  on  this  continent,  and  rarely,  if  ever,  abroad."  He  fore- 
saw the  charge  which  was  to  follow  the  cannonade,  and  gave  necessary  direc- 
tions from  right  to  left,  to  all  the  artillery  commanders  along  the  line.  He 
continues,  "  I  had  just  given  these  orders  to  the  last  battery  on  Little  Round 
Top,  when  the  signal  gun  was  fired,  and  the  enemy  opened  with  all  his  guns. 
From  that  point  the  scene  was  indescribably  grand.  All  their  batteries  were 
soon  covered  with  smoke,  through  which  the  flashes  were  incessant,  while  the 
air  seemed  filled  with  shells,  whose  sharp  explosions,  with  the  hurling  of  their 
fragments,  formed  a  running  accompaniment  with  the  deep  roar  of  the  guns." 
It  was,  indeed,  the  prelude  to  that  famous  charge  which  practically  ended  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  which  marked  the  high  tide  of  the  Great  Rebellion. 
At  one  o'clock  the  cannonade  commenced,  and  at  this  hour  twenty-five  years 
ago  you  were  hotly  engaged.  Before  two,  the  Union  guns  ceased  firing  awhile 
and  awaited  the  assault,  which  soon  followed.  Some  movements  of  artillery 
had  deceived  the  enemy,  and  their  heavy  fire,  they  thought,  had  silenced  our 
own.    They  were  soon  to  know  the  true  situation. 

There  is  little  need  to  describe  Pickett's  charge  across  the  fields  before  us, 
so  often  described  by  actors  and  spectators,  and  so  well  remembered  by  some 
of  you.  Checked  here  and  there  by  the  fire  of  infantry  and  artillery,  seriously 
impeded  by  Stannard's  attack  on  their  right  flank,  this  column  of  brave  men 
had  yet  impetus  enough  to  reach  the  spot  at  which  they  aimed.  Only  to  reach 
it  but  not  to  conquer.  As  they  came  up  one  of  our  own  men  loaded  his 
gun  with  a  three-fold  charge  of  canister  and  discharged  it,  overturning  the 


1184  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

gun  in  its  recoil,  but  dealing  death  amid  the  opposing  ranks.  Double  canister 
was  fired  by  you  and  the  neighboring  batteries  until  the  last  moment,  Walter 
Bogan,  now  present,  having  the  honor  oi  firing  the  last  gun.  These  rapid, 
deadly  discharges  opened  great  gaps  in  the  advancing  host,  only  to  be  filled  up 
again.  The  enemy  swept  on  over  all  obstacles  and  around  the  pieces,  and  for 
the  first  and  last  time  in  the  history  of  Pettit's  Battery,  the  hands  of  the 
foe  were  laid  upon  its  guns.  It  was  to  be  but  for  a  moment,  but  one  brave 
man  could  not  even  endure  that  brief  possession.  Sergeant  Darveau  fired  his 
revolver  at  the  foe  as  they  came  on,  and  when  an  officer  planted  his  colors 
on  a  gun,  exclaiming,  "  This  is  ours !  "  he  retorted,  "  You  lie  1 "  seized  a  trail 
hand-spike,  and  struck  him  full  across  the  forehead,  killing  him  on  the  spot. 
Darveau  himself  fell  instantly,  riddled  with  bullets.  It  was  a  daring  deed,  if 
a  needless  sacrifice.  For  now  the  Union  lines  closed  fast  around  the  brave 
Confederate  remnant,  escape  was  cut  ofif,  and  there  was  no  aid  at  hand.  A 
few  moments  more,  and  all  who  were  not  dead  were  prisoners.  The  men  took 
their  places  again  at  their  guns,  but  no  second  charge  followed,  and  no  further 
storm  of  shot  and  shell  swept  across  the  valley.  The  battle  of  Gettysburg  had 
been  fought  and  won. 

It  is  easy  to  talk  of  it  now,  but  it  was  an  experience  no  one  wished  to  repeat, 
on  either  side.  The  marvel  is  how  either,  victor  or  vanquished,  lived  through 
it.  Thousands  did  not.  In  the  Second  Corps  batteries  one  commander  only 
was  left  at  his  post.  Captain  Rorty  fell  on  this  spot.  Scarcely  was  he  down 
before  Lieutenant  Sheldon  was  wounded  and  carried  from  the  field,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Rogers  took  his  place  for  the  time,  succeeding  him  as  captain  afterwards, 
and  holding  command  when  the  battery  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the 
war.  Of  those  belonging  to  our  battery,  I  find  the  names  of  the  following 
killed  at  Gettysburg:  Barry,  Darveau,  Gavin,  Hallorah,  Kelley,  Maynard, 
Radue,  Rorty,  Rosegrant,  Twitchel  and  Wright,  making  11,  or  i  in  excess 
of  the  number  usually  reported.  The  names  of  16  wounded  I  also  find,  who 
were  Buckley,  Campbell,  Childs,  Denoyer,  Hooker,  Mallory,  McGowan,  Ferine, 
Robb,  Rodgers,  Scoville,  Sheldon,  Sherman,  States,  Thorn  and  Wallace,  mak- 
ing an  aggregate  loss  of  27. 

A  peaceful  night  succeeded  a  bloody  day,  the  groans  of  the  wounded  and 
the  hum  of  camp  life  alone  being  heard.  A  peaceful  day  followed,  and  with 
all  that  might  have  been  gained  by  immediate  action  it  seems  now  a  happy 
thing  that  on  the  day  of  their  country's  independence  Americans  were  not 
fighting  each  other.  Heaven  itself  seemed  to  interpose,  and  the  stormy  day 
was  no  time  for  hostile  operations.  Far  away  in  the  west  on  that  day  a  long 
siege  had  happily  terminated.  Vicksburg  was  surrendered,  and  the  only  guns 
heard  were  those  that  welcomed  the  Nation's  birthday.  In  both  places  there 
were  guarantees  of  a  reunion  of  States,  and  a  new  and  better  life.  In  both 
the  peace  of  the  day  prophesied  of  that  which  should  follow.  And  here  we 
stand  a  quarter  of  a  century  later,  realizing  how  great  in  its  consequences  this 
heroic  struggle  was.  From  it  came  peace,  though  not  at  once;  from  it  came 
that  mutual  respect  for  every  portion  of  our  land  which  may  prove  the  best 
security  for  lasting  peace.  With  no  feeling  of  shame  for  the  courage  of  his 
State,  north  and  south,  east  and  west,  does  any  man  stand  here  now.     All 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1185 

who  fought  were  brave  alike.  So  well  matched  were  the  armies  in  every  way 
that  it  was  one  of  the  most  equal  struggles  of  the  war,  and  the  gallantry  of 
those  defeated  only  increases  the  glory  of  those  who  held  the  field  against 
them.  It  was  not  fought  in  swamps,  or  a  tangled  wilderness,  or  spread  over 
a  wide  extent  of  country  broken  up  by  woods  and  ravines.  It  was  a  fair  field, 
a  fair  fight,  and  as  such  its  results  have  been  accepted.  Had  this  or  that  been 
done,  some  things  might  have  been  changed,  but  we  do  not  know  that  they 
might  have  been  bettered.  All's  well  that  ends  well,  and  if  the  North  fought 
for  Peace  and  Union  for  the  whole  land,  it  gained  both  for  all.  From  the 
hour  when  the  last  hostile  sound  was  heard  at  Gettysburg,  the  result  was  never 
uncertain. 

In  one  respect  it  is  a  field  to  which  the  Empire  State  will  always  turn  with 
interest.  It  lies  within  the  Keystone  State,  and  if  the  keystone  breaks  the  arch 
may  fall.  The  thought  may  have  given  vigor  to  many  an  arm  twenty-five  years 
ago.  Gettysburg  lost  or  won  meant  the  Union  destroyed  or  preserved.  Few 
doubt  this  now.  So  from  the  hills  of  my  native  neighboring  State  many  came 
to  repel  the  invader.  Three  hundred  and  seven  commands  officially  report 
losses  here  of  22,990;  and  of  these,  87  New  York  commands  lost  6,y'jy  men. 
How  much  sadness  and  joy,  therefore,  this  field  brought  to  our  State.  Others 
were  as  brave;  but  it  suffered  most  severely,  its  loss  being  nearly  one-third  of 
the  whole.  It  has  not  forgotten  this.  The  best  monument  for  those  who 
made  history  is  in  history,  but  the  visible  record  on  the  spot  has  a  great  value 
also.  Many  will  be  the  pilgrims  here  from  our  State,  and  many  will  come 
from  the  hills  of  Onondaga  and  the  banks  of  the  Seneca.  They  will  seek 
the  spots  of  greatest  interest  and  peril  indeed,  but  some  of  these  will  be  where 
stood  the  Onondaga  men.  Almost  side  by  side  among  the  infantry  on  Gulp's 
Hill,  fought  the  One  hundred  and  twenty-second  and  the  One  hundred  and 
forty-ninth,  in  whose  ranks  were  some  of  my  earlier  and  later  friends.  On 
this  spot  thundered  the  guns  of  Battery  B,  with  some  of  whose  members  I 
have  been  in  so  many  scenes  of  joy  and  sorrow  since.  It  is  well  that  monu- 
ments mark  these  spots,  for  talk  as  we  will  of  the  horrors  of  war  —  and  least 
of  all  would  soldiers  have  these  return  —  there  is  a  sense  of  elevation  when  we 
stand  where  men  have  laid  their  lives  down  for  their  land  and  fellow  men. 
Our  estimates  of  heroism  may  differ,  but  the  heroic  we  admire.  And  certainly 
men  have  seldom  shown  more  warlike  heroism  than  on  this  spot.  Here  liter- 
ally it  was  a  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  against  which  men  bent  their  heads  as 
they  would  before  driving  hail,  holding  their  own  as  best  they  might.  If  some 
did  this  selfishly  or  inconsiderately,  more  fought  for  higher  motives. 

And  the  result  is  that  we  are,  and  are  still  to  be,  Americans  all.  The  na- 
tional anniversary  to-morrow  will  not  dawn  upon  a  disunited  people,  but  it 
will  still  be  one  Nation  among  many  States,  looking  forward  to  a  peaceful  and 
glorious  future.  Linked  with  the  birthday  of  the  Nation  there  will  always  be 
the  memory  of  the  spot  and  day.  Pennsylvania  saw  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence; on  the  soil  of  the  same  State  was  fought  the  battle  which  de- 
termined that  the  Union  should  be  perpetual.  Here  we  can  celebrate  both  if 
we  will. 

It  is  well  that  this  feeling  of  union  has  been  strengthened  even  in  battle. 

75 


1 1 86  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

State  monuments  are  here  intermingled,  as  troops  from  various  Northern  States 
here  fought  side  by  side.  Your  guns  kept  time  with  those  of  the  gallant  Rhode 
Island  Battery  stationed  just  above  you,  but  the  importance  of  the  States  made 
no  difiference  in  the  bravery  and  effectiveness  of  the  men.  Regular  batteries 
gallantly  united  their  fire  with  yours,  but  with  mutual  admiration  and  emula- 
tion. All  fought  for  their  country.  In  a  similar  way  there  were  heroes  here 
from  all  ranks  of  life,  conscious  only  that  they  were  all  children  of  one  land. 
We  honor  them  to-day  as  others  will  do  hereafter. 

On  these  slopes,  and  on  yonder  rocky  heights,  men  bravely  fought  and  fell, 
and  later  years  will  brighten  their  memories.  Their  faults  will  disappear,  their 
virtues  will  seem  greater.  Others  may  write,  but  they  made  history,  as  we  may 
do  in  many  ways.  Remembering  our  heroes  gratefully,  in  their  best  sense  I 
may  conclude  with  Schiller's  lines: — 

"  Whate'er  the  goods  of  earth,  of  all 
The  highest  and  the  holiest — Fame  I 
For  when  the  form  in  dust  shall  fall. 
O'er  dust  triumphant  lives  the  Name. 
Brave  men,  your  light  of  glory  never 
Shall  fade,  while  song  to  man  shall  last; 
The  living  soon  from  earth  are  passed. 
The  dead  —  endure  forever  1 " 

Revering  our  dead  heroes,  grateful  to  those  who  survive,  we  now  dedicate 
this  monument  to  the  memory  of  great  deeds,  trusting  that  if  danger  ever 
again  assails  our  land,  these  silent,  enduring  witnesses  will  stimulate  later  men 
to  heroic,  patriotic,  and  unselfish  action.  May  the  memory  of  those  who  fought 
here  be  perpetual;  may  the  blessing  of  God  rest  upon  it  now  and  evermore; 
and  to  these  good  wishes  may  every  loyal  heart  respond. 


J.  B    L\ON  PRINT. 


F.   J.  SEVEEKNCE,  PHOTO. 


BATTERY    C,   1ST    NEW    YORK    LIGHT   ARTILLERY. 

On  west  side  of  Sedgwick  Avenue,  north  of  Little  Round  Top. 


New  York  at  Gettysbueg.  1187 

{INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

BATTERY  C. 

(Barnes') 

1st  new  YORK 

LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

5th  corps. 

(Reverse.) 

Engagements 

Antietam 

TO 

Appomattox. 

(Right  Side.) 

Held  this  position 

FROM  about 

4.30  p.  m.  July  2, 

TO   4  A.   M. 

July  3,  1863. 
(Left  Side.) 

On  the  MORNING 

OF  July  3, 
transferred  to 

THE  LEFT  FLANK       i  , . 

OF  Big  Round  Top.    ' 


J    •-.   ■  x  •/  ■ 


1 1 88  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

dedication  of  monument. 

BATTERY  C  —  "BARNES'  " 

FIRST  REGIMENT  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

July  2,  1893. 

Historical  Sketch,  by  Capt.  Almont  Barnes. 

Battery  C,  First  New  York  Light  Artillery,  was  raised  in  Watertown,  Jef- 
ferson County,  during  the  latter  part  of  August,  1861,  under  the  call  for  300,000 
men  for  three  years'  service.  The  initiative  was  taken  by  Mr.  Almont  Barnes, 
a  journalist  twenty-six  years  of  age,  who  placed  his  name  first  on  the  roll  as  a 
volunteer  on  August  8th,  and  who,  with  the  co-operation  of  ex-Senator  John 
W.  TambUn  and  friends  in  near  towns,  had  the  required  minimum  number 
of  men  for  a  company  ready  before  September  ist.  Delay  occurring  in  the 
receipt  of  transportation  papers,  Mr.  Barnes  arranged  for  transportation  to 
Rome,  and  then  paid  personally  for  the  transit  to  the  rendezvous  at  Elmira, 
hoping  that  the  company  might  become  the  first  in  the  regiment,  but  arriving 
too  late,  on  the  3d.  On  the  sth,  an  election  of  officers  was  held,  at  which 
the  first  place  was  offered  to  Mr.  Barnes,  but  he  declined  in  compliment  to 
Mr.  Tamblin,  who  was  too  old  to  go  into  the  field;  the  former  was  elected 
unanimously  as  first  lieutenant,  and,  later,  Mr.  William  S.  Cooper  was  elected 
second  lieutenant.  After  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  and  equipment 
and  camp  drill,  the  whole  body  of  twelve  companies  arrived  at  Washington, 
October  31st,  and  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Camp  Barry,  on  Capitol  Hill. 

Captain  Tamblin  resigned  and  left  the  service,  January  27,  1862,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Barnes,  then  on  recruiting  service,  was  commissioned  captain.  On 
April  26th  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  company,  which  was  soon 
mounted  and  received  its  guns,  four  3-inch  rifled  pieces,  known  as  "  Ordnance  " 
guns,  being  chosen.  After  about  a  month  of  mounted  drill  the  completed 
battery  was  stationed  near  Fairfax  Seminary,  in  the  defences  of  Washington, 
where  it  was  assigned  to  General  Sturgis'  provisional  brigade.  Here  a  sec- 
tion of  two  guns  was  temporarily  detached  and  sent,  with  infantry,  to  guard 
a  bridge  across  Bull  Run,  near  Manassas;  but  all  were  "  gathered  in  "  by  the 
enemy  in  the  advance  to  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  August  26,  1862,  only 
a  few  of  the  men  escaping  on  horseback,  in  the  darkness. 

During  its  subsequent  movements  the  battery  was  assigned  to  Hum- 
phreys' Division  (Third),  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  arrived  on  the  field  of 
Antietam  in  time  to  fire  the  last  cannon  shots  of  that  contest,  from  a  point 
between  Sharpsburg  and  the  river,  under  direction  of  Gen.  E.  B.  Tyler,  of  the 
Third  Brigade.  After  this  battle,  because  of  changes,  Sergts.  James  B.  Hazel- 
ton  and  William  H.  Phillips  were  promoted  to  second  Ueutenancies,  the 
former  being  transferred  soon  to  another  battery,  and,  later,  promoted  to  a 
captaincy  before  he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  Battery  C  was  in  action  next 
at  Fredericksburg,  where  one  section,  under  Lieut.  William  H.  Phillips,  Captain 
Barnes  being  absent  under  orders  to  equip  a  second  section,  crossed  the  river 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1 189 

on  the  centre  pontoon  bridge,  and  went  into  position  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
town. 

On  April  30,  1863,  the  battery,  under  command  of  Captain  Barnes,  left  its 
winter  camp  at  Stoneman's  Switch,  near  Falmouth,  Va.,  and  proceeded  to 
Chancellorsville,  where  it  arrived  at  5  p.  m.,  the  next  dayi  On  the  following 
day,  May  2d,  it  was  placed  in  position  on  the  left  of  the  army,  but  was  not 
actively  engaged  in  the  battle,  and  sustained  no  casualties.  Recrossing  the 
Rappahannock  with  the  army,  the  battery  returned  to  its  camp  on  the  6th, 
where  it  remained  for  a  month,  and  then  started  on  the  Pennsylvania  campaign. 

The  Artillery  Brigade  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  to  which  Captain  Barnes'  guns 
were  attached,  arrived  on  the  battlefield  of  Gettysburg  on  July  2d  —  the  battle 
of  the  second  day.  Battery  C  arrived  at  5:40  a.  m.,  and  at  6:15  a.  m.,  took 
position  in  a  wheatfield  near  the  Musser  Farm,  on  Rock  Creek.  At  11  a.  m., 
the  position  of  the  battery  was  changed  to  one  nearer  the  centre,  in  reserve, 
with  several  other  batteries.  At  about  4  p.  m.,  the  chief  of  the  corps  artillery, 
Capt.  A.  P.  Martin,  directed  Captain  Barnes  to  "  Follow  the  Regulars,"  Gen- 
eral Ayres'  Second  Division,  then  passing  towards  the  left  and  Little  Round 
Top;  "and  don't  let  Sickles  get  you! "  was  added,  warningly,  that  corps  beiijg 
hard  pressed,  and  we  having  to  pass  its  rear.  As  fast  as  the  Fifth  Corps  came 
up  it  became  engaged,  and  Battery  C  went  into  position  without  other  orders 
than  the  foregoing,  in  the  first  available  place  it  could  occupy,  on  a  line  with 
Gibbs'  First  Ohio  and  Hazlett's,  D,  Fifth  U.  S.,  to  the  left.  The  position  was 
on  the  right  of  Little  Round  Top  (north),  near  a  large  rock  which  gave  cover 
to  its  caissons.  With  the  bloody  struggle  in  its  immediate  front  (see  War 
Department  maps),  the  charge  of  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves  through  it,  and 
its  guns  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  fight  they  covered,  although  under  con- 
tinual musketry  fire,  there  was  no  opportunity  to  reply  until  the  enemy  was 
driven  back.  Captain  Barnes  then  reported  in  person  to  General  Sykes  his 
action  and  position,  which  were  approved,  Captain  Martin  not  having 
appeared  at  his  position.  With  remarkable  good  fortune  his  battery  escaped 
loss  in  men  and  horses,  although  some  of  the  harness,  etc.,  was  cut  with  bullets 
and  had  to  be  replaced  at  once. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  third  day's  battle,  Captain  Barnes  was 
ordered  to  report  with  his  battery  and  the  Third  Massachusetts  Battery,  Lieu- 
tenant Walcott  (Martin's),  to  General  Howe,  a  division  commander  of  the 
Sixth  Corps,  and  the  guns  were  moved  to  the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  where 
they  remained  in  position  without  being  engaged,  though  exposed  to  artillery 
fire  at  times,  and  expecting  attack,  until  the  close  of  the  battle. 

The  battery  participated  in  the  movements  following  Gettysburg,  going  with 
the  Fifth  Corps  to  Manassas  Gap,  and  being  the  only  battery  of  that  corps 
which  reached  that  point  with  all  its  guns,  and  organization  complete.  Forage 
trains  being  delayed,  most  of  the  horses  were  without  feed  on  that  hot,  rapid, 
mountainous  march ;  but,  notwithstanding  "  orders,"  the  horses  of  this  battery 
were  fed  and  kept  efficient.  This  brought  a  threat  of  arrest  to  the  captain; 
but  it  ended  at  General  Hunt,  chief  of  artillery  of  the  army,  who  remarked: 
"  I  suppose  Captain  Barnes  knows  what  the  orders  are;  but  by  G — d,  I  like  to 
see  a  man  take  care  of  his  horses ! " 


1 1  go  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  battery  participated  in  the  movements  of  the  army  to  the  Rappahannock 
River  and  Mine  Run,  in  the  latter  gaining  an  enfilading  fire  on  a  three-gun 
battery  near  a  railroad  cut,  at  close  range,  and  nearly  destroying  it  and  its 
guns  in  a  few  rounds.  After  this  campaign  it  went  into  winter  quarters  at 
Bealeton  Station,  near  the  Rappahannock. 

In  May,  1864,  it  was  present,  but  like  most  of  the  artillery  not  engaged,  at 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness;  and  was  at  Spotsylvania,  North  Anna,  and  Bethesda 
Church.  At  Spotsylvania,  May  17th,  it  was  restored  to  the  Fifth  Corps,  from 
the  Reserve  Artillery,  where  it  had  been  only  a  few  weeks,  and  on  the  19th, 
celebrated  its  return  in  the  severe,  independent  action  at  the  Harris  House,  a 
mile  to  the  rear  of  the  Fifth  Corps  headquarters,  on  the  Fredericksburg  Road. 
Sent  back  to  that  point  about  noon  with  orders  to  report  to  Colonel  Kitching, 
commanding  a  brigade  of  heavy  artillery,  troops  all  new  to  field  service,  Cap- 
tain Barnes  reported  for  duty,  and  found  the  men  going  into  camp,  putting  up 
tents,  the  officers  much  at  ease,  and  not  a  picket  post  or  sentry  out.  Later, 
while  reconnoitring  on  horseback,  he  saw  over  a  near  line  of  low  woods  the 
enemy  approaching  from  a  second  woods,  in  line  of  battle,  and  gave  the  alarm 
to  the  colonel  commanding.  After  showing  the  latter  a  rail  fence  in  the  woods, 
behind  which  to  form  line,  he  divided  his  battery,  placing  a  section  under 
Lieutenant  Phillips  to  command  a  road  entering  the  Fredericksburg  Pike  from 
the  direction  of  the  enemy,  posting  another  on  the  highest  ground  close  to  the 
Harris  House,  opening  fire  at  once  with  both  through  the  trees  and  tree  tops 
upon  the  advancing  line,  and  sending  back  for  reinforcements.  General  Grant 
says  in  his  history :  "  Tyler  had  come  up  from  Fredericksburg,  and  had  been 
halted  on  the  road  to  the  right  of  our  line  near  Kitching's  Brigade  of  Warren's 
Corps.  Tyler  received  the  attack  with  his  raw  troops,  and  they  maintained 
their  position,  until  reinforced,  in  a  manner  worthy  of  veterans." 

The  fact  was,  however,  that  the  attack  began  on  Kitching,  and  was  repulsed 
after  a  stubborn  fight  at  close  quarters,  all  along  his  hne.  A  second  attack 
found  Battery  C  reinforced  by  Hart's  Fifteenth  New  York  Battery,  and  the 
brigade  by  that  of  Gen.  R.  O.  Tyler,  with  Birney's  Division  of  Hancock's 
Corps  upon  his  right,  and  Crawford's,  of  Warren's  Corps,  upon  the  left  of 
Kitching.  The  attack  was  made  by  Ewell's  Corps,  with  Early  in  reserve,  and 
in  both  charges  was  repulsed.  Although  Battery  C  fired  at  medium  and  short 
range  eighty-six  rounds  from  the  Harris  House  and  fourteen  from  the  road, 
and  was  in  line  of  the  hail-storm  of  bullets  that  beat  upon  the  house,  it  reported 
no  casualties. 

In  the  engagement  near  Bethesda  Church  the  position  of  Battery  C  was  the 
same  as  that  previously  occupied  earlier  in  the  day  by  Battery  D,  Fifth  U.  S.,  and 
the  Third  Massachusetts,  successively,  both  of  which  lost  several  men  and 
horses,  and  expended  all  the  ammunition  in  their  limbers,  the  caissons  being 
left,  owing  to  want  of  room,  behind  the  edge  of  the  woods  where  the  guns 
were  stationed.  In  this  position,  open  to  sharpshooters  in  a  house  in  the 
open  field  and  to  the  fire  of  two  twenty-pounder  guns  in  front,  and  two  to  the 
right,  half  enfilading,  both  batteries  behind  heavy  works,  Battery  C  began 
firing  with  the  first  gun  in  position  (by  hand)  and  receiving  fire  in  return. 
Its  third  shot  dismounted  one  of  the  two  hostile  guns  in  front,  turning  it  over 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1191 

endwise,  and  raising  a  cheer  on  the  picket  line.  This  had  fired  two  shells,  a 
fragment  of  one  wounding  the  bugler's  horse,  slightly,  in  the  neck;  but  no 
more  shots  coming  from  that  redoubt  it  was  reasonably  supposed  both  its 
guns  were  disabled.  But  the  two  twenty-pounders  to  the  right  took  up  the 
fight  at  once,  and  were  finally  silenced,  and  left  18  dead  horses  upon  their  field. 
The  sharpshooters  were  also  driven  from  the  house  in  the  field  with  percussion 
shells,  and  the  battery  finally  withdrew  in  the  evening  after  using  498  rounds 
of  ammunition,  without  a  man  wounded  or  a  horse  disabled.  Captain«Bames, 
whose  recent  arrest  was  suspended  during  this  fight  (charged  with  seizing  a 
cart  for  a  mess  wagon,  in  default  of  other  means  of  transportation),  was  soon  re- 
leased, but  his  name  does  not  appear,  in  official  reports,  as  in  command  during 
this  action,  although  he  directed  every  movement,  and  aimed  the  first  gun  in 
the  beginning  of  the  action. 

Accompanying  the  Fifth  Corps  as  usual,  the  battery  was  actively  engaged 
in  the  battle  before  Petersburg,  June  i8th,  silencing  two  batteries  from  different 
positions,  having  i  man  wounded,  i  g^n  dismounted,  and  i  horse  killed  in  the 
last  fight,  after  which  it  entered  on  the  long  and  arduous  duties  incidental  to 
the  siege  of  that  place.  At  the  battle  of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  August  18-21, 
1864,  the  guns  occupied  a  prominent  place  on  the  line,  where  the  effective  service 
rendered  by  them  elicited  favorable  mention  in  the  official  report  of  Colonel 
Wainwright,  the  chief  of  artillery  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  the  open  commenda- 
tion of  General  Warren,  commander  of  the  corps. 

During  its  service  the  battery  participated  in  all  the  movements,  engage- 
ments and  battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  the  organization  with 
which  it  entered  the  field  practically,  up  to  September  5,  1864,  when  most  of 
the  original  three  years'  men  who  had  not  re-enlisted,  including  the  captain,  were 
mustered  out  by  reason  of  expiration  of  term  of  service,  and  after  the  active 
operations  of  the  campaign  had  ceased;  the  last  action  of  the  old  organization 
being  that  which  secured  possession  of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  at  the  Yellow 
Tavern,  near  Petersburg,  August  21,  1864. 

Up  to  this  date  Battery  C  had  never  been  outmarched,  stalled  in  the  mud, 
or  otherwise  balked  in  movement;  had  never  failed  to  reach  on  time  and  in 
complete  form  any  designated  objective  point;  had  never  been  driven  from  a 
position;  never  failed  to  silence  an  opposing  battery;  and  never  lost  a  gun, 
the  capture  of  the  section  mentioned  not  being  a  battery  or  battle  loss.  Its 
losses  of  men  were  remarkably  light,  so  that  it  gained  the  designation  of 
"  Lucky,''  as,  also,  did  its  commander.  But  3  of  its  men  had  been  killed,  less 
than  half  a  dozen  wounded,  and  not  over  15  lost  by  all  casualties  during  these 
two  years  and  a  half  of  operations,  which  culminated  in  more  than  twenty 
engagements  and  battles.  Not  a  dozen  of  its  horses  were  killed  or  wounded. 
Of  1,004  horses  drawn,  the  82  last  turned  in  were,  after  a  recent  inspection 
of  all  artillery  horses  of  the  army,  pronounced  the  best  battery  lot  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac;  and  28  more  were  turned  in,  first  and  last,  than  were 
ever  drawn  from  the  government.  It,  perhaps,  was  not  all  "  luck "  which 
produced  such  a  record;  but  possibly  the  reasons  may  be  partly  surmised  from 
the  current  fact  that  almost  every  surviving  soldier  of  old  Battery  C  is  now 
a  prosperous  and  honored  member  of  the  community  in  which  he  survives. 


1 192 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


Good  soldiers  make  good  citizens ;  and  these  soldiers  were  equal  in  intelligence, 
reliability,  and  courage  to  those  of  any  like  organization  in  the  army. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  mention  here  also  the  tribute  of  Maj.  Gen. 
A.  A.  Humphreys,  late  chief  of  engineers,  U.  S.  A.,  to  the  commander  of  the 
battery,  and  which  concludes  as  follows :  "  Capt.  Almont  Barnes  served  in  my 
command  as  captain  of  one  of  the  batteries  of  field  artillery.  He  participated 
in  the  operations  and  battles  that  the  division  (and  corps)  took  part  in,  ex- 
hibiting intelligence  and  industry  in  the  instruction  and  discipline  of  his  bat- 
tery, and  skill  and  courage  in  using  it."  It  is  a  further  significant  fact  that  of 
the  first  men  enlisted  who  went  together  to  Elmira,  nine  became  commissioned 
oiificers. 

Upon  the  muster  out  of  the  officers  and  men  indicated,  a  new  force  of  men 
was  assigned  from  outside,  and  the  command  of  the  reorganized  battery  given 
to  Lieut.  David  F.  Ritchie,  of  Battery  H,  who  was  commissioned  captain, 
and  under  whose  command  it  completed  its  service  with  the  army  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  the  next  spring.  It  was  actively  engaged  in  the  operations  culminating 
at  Appomattox,  and  kept  well  its  arduously  earned  and  honorable  record.  Like 
many  batteries  tied  up  to  a  regimental  organization,  it  was  unfavorably  ham- 
pered at  times  by  that  absurd  and  false  relation. 

During  the  fall  and  winter  after  reorganization  Battery  C  remained  in  position 
near  the  Weldon  Railroad,  and  for  a  part  of  this  period  it  occupied  an  earth- 
work on  the  lines  called  Fort  Conahey.  Before  entering  the  spring  campaign 
of  1865  the  four  rifled  guns  were  exchanged  for  four  brass  guns, —  light 
twelves. 

Under  command  of  Captain  Ritchie,  Battery  C  participated  in  the  battle 
of  April  2,  1865,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the  Confederate  lines  at 
Petersburg  and  termination  of  the  long  and  bloody  siege.  Early  in  the  morn- 
ing Captain  Ritchie  was  ordered  to  take  his  cannoneers  into  the  Rebel  works 
that  had  just  been  captured,  and  man  the  enemy's  guns  which  had  been  aban- 
doned. 

These  guns  were  exposed  to  a  heavy  fire,  and  while  the  men  of  Battery  C. 
were  working  them  they  lost  2  men  killed  and  2  wounded.  Captain  Ritchie 
in  his  official  report  speaks  in  high  praise  of  his  officers  and  men,  their  cool- 
ness and  gallantry  in  this  action,  and  mentions  several  by  name. 

After  marching  to  Washington  at  the  close  of  the  campaign,  the  war-worn 
veterans  of  Battery  C  returned  to  Elmira,  where  they  received  their  final  pay 
and  discharge,  June  17,  1865. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1193 


ilNSCRIPTIONS.) 


{Front.) 

BATTERY  D 

1st  N.  Y. 

LIGHT  ARTILLERY 

ARTILLERY  BRIG.  THIRD  CORPS. 

(Reverse.) 

This  battery  (Winslow's) 

held  this  position  during 

the  afternoon  of  july  2,  1863 

Casualties 

10  Wounded;  8  Missing. 

Mustered  in  Sept.  6,  1861 

Engaged  in  32  Battles 

Mustered  out  June  16,  1865 


.,»  U    <        '' 


iiQ^  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

BATTERY  D  —  "  WINSLOW'S  " 

FIRST  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

July  2,  1888. 

Address  by  Cot-  Thomas  W.  Osborn. 
Comrades: 

On  this  anniversary  of  a  great,  historic  battle  we  have  convened  to  dedicate 
the  monument  which  marks  the  site  where  the  battery,  of  which  we  were  at 
some  one  time  members,  performed  heroic  deeds, —  Battery  D,  First  New 
York  Light  Artillery. 

It  was  a  magnificent  organization,  composed  of  superb  officers  and  the 
bravest  of  men.  Each  man  who  was  at  any  time  a  member  of  it  is  to-day  proud 
of  its  record,  and  dwells  with  pride  upon  the  many  daring  and  reckless  deeds 
performed  upon  many  battlefields  during  those  years  of  carnage. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  the  survivors  of  Battery  D  to  learn  a  little  of  the 
origin  of  the  company,  how  it  came  to  be  organized,  and  how  it  came  to  choose 
the  branch  of  the  service  it  did.  It  is  in  my  power  to  give  this  information,  and 
I  will  do  so. 

From  August,  i860,  to  September,  1861,  I  was  a  law  student  in  the  office  of 
Starbuck  &  Sawyer,  Watertown,  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.  My  home  was  in 
North  Wilna,  in  the  same  county.  Before,  and  until  danger  threatened,  and 
after  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  I  had  no  thought  or  intention  of  entering 
the  military  service.  I  took  no  interest  whatever  in  military  affairs,  or  in  the 
military  organizations  then  forming.  The  service  had  no  charm  for  me,  but 
the  opposite.  It  was  repulsive.  This  sentiment  in  no  way  changed  until  the 
battle  of  Bull  Run  had  been  fought  and  lost.  Then,  from  a  sense  of  duty 
alone,  I  determined  to  enter  the  army.  I  was  not  alone  in  this  sentiment. 
Thousands  of  men  shared  it  with  me. 

I  was  a  farmer's  son,  and  a  law  student.  I  was  without  political  or  other 
controlling  influences  to  aid  me.  Regiments,  battalions,  and  companies  were 
being  organized  all  around  me;  but  they  were  all  of  them  under  the  patronage, 
supervision,  and  control  of  men  of  State  or  local  prominence.  All  of  these  or- 
ganizations, too,  were  indorsed  and  aided  by  powerful  committees  of  citizens, 
who  exerted  themselves  to  their  utmost  to  aid  the  enlisting  officers  to  secure 
the  men  required  in  each  respective  command.  It  was  everywhere  said  and 
generally  conceded,  that  no  man  should  organize  even  a  company  who  was  not 
sufficiently  prominent  to  enable  a  committee  of  citizens  to  indorse  him,  and 
whose  own  personality  should  be  a  guarantee  that  the  men  whom  he  might  en- 
list would  have  superior  care  and  opportunities. 

I  was  not  able  to  answer  all  these  requirements;  nor  had  I  a  county  com- 
mittee of  influential  men  to  vouch  for  and  aid  me.  I  had  no  knowledge  of 
military  affairs  or  organizations,  or  even  of  the  several  branches  or  arms  of 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1195 

the  service.  I  gave  a  few  days  to  examining  the  subject  from  such  sources  as 
I  could  command,  and  with  the  trifling  information  so  acquired,  determined  to 
seek  admission  into  the  artillery  arm  of  the  army.  To  accomplish  this  I  must 
enlist  a  company.  This  I  determined  to  do.  Until  my  plans  were  fully,  though 
crudely,  matured,  I  consulted  no  one,  nor  did  any  person  know  that  I  contem- 
plated entering  the  army.  When,  however,  my  plans  were  matured,  I  laid 
them  before  Mr.  Sawyer. 

Mr.  Sawyer  then  informed  me  that  his  personal  friend,  Lieut  Guilford  P. 
Bailey,  of  the  regular  army,  had  been  authorized  to  organize  a  regiment  of 
light  batteries,  of  which  he  was  to  be  commissioned  coIoneL  This  was  the 
first  I  had  ever  heard  of  Lieutenant  Bailey,  or  of  the  proposed  regiment  of  light 
batteries.  Mr.  Sawyer  at  once  wrote  to  Lieutenant  Bailey,  inquiring  if  a  com- 
pany I  might  enlist  would  be  received  into  his  regiment  He  replied  that  it 
would.    I  then  undertook  to  enlist  the  necessary  men. 

I  required  100  men,  and  to  secure  them  I  had  my  personal  efforts  alone  to 
depend  upon.  I  returned  to  the  farm  and  gave  out  that  I  intended  to  enter 
the  army,  and  desired  to  enlist  men  sufficient  for  a  company.  Taking  one  of 
my  brother's  horses  I  rode  on  horseback  over  a  large  portion  of  Jefferson, 
Lewis,  and  St.  Lawrence  Counties.  Whenever  I  heard  of  a  man  who  had 
expressed  a  desire  to  enter  the  army,  or  who  his  neighbors  thought  might 
be  induced  to  do  so,  I  saw  him  and  told  him  I  was  going  into  the  service 
and  asked  him  to  go  with  me.  I  employed  no  other  argument.  I  said  noth- 
ing about  the  right  or  wrong  of  the  controversy.  I  assumed  every  man  knew 
as  much  about  that  as  I  did.  I  held  out  no  special  inducements  for  him  to 
enlist.  I  told  every  man  who  were  to  be  the  officers  of  the  company,  so  far  as 
had  been  determined. 

While  making  this  canvass  for  men  I  called  on  George  B.  Winslow,  of 
Gouverneiu",  then  a  hardware  merchant,  with  whom  I  had  previously  been 
acquainted.  I  laid  my  plans,  and  the  results  so  far  attained  before  him.  He 
joined  me  in  recruiting  men.  In  the  end,  I  had  secured  about  sixty  and  he 
about  forty  men.  On  the  20th  of  August  I  reported  to  Colonel  Bailey  that 
I  had  secured  the  complement  of  men;  on  the  25th  the  men  reported  to  me 
at  Watertown;  and  on  the  28th  the  company  left  Watertown  for  the  recruiting 
rendezvous  at  Elmira,  where  we  arrived  on  the  4th  of  September.  Not  one 
man  who  had  signed  the  roll  was  missing.  Being  the  fourth  company  arriv- 
ing at  the  barracks  it  was  designated  as  "  Company  D." 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1861,  the  men  were  mustered  into  the  military 
service  of  the  United  States,  and  elected  their  officers.  These  were:  Captain, 
Luther  Kieffer,  who  had  at  one  time  been  a  first  sergeant  in  the  regular  army, 
and  was  presumed  to  know  more  of  military  affairs  than  the  rest  of  us;  first 
lieutenant,  myself;  second  lieutenant,  Geo.  B.  Winslow.  However,  our  first 
commissions  were, —  Kieffer,  as  major;  myself  as  captain;  and  Winslow  as 
first  Ueutenant. 

In  barracks  at  Elmira  our  experience  was  much  the  same  as  that  of  other 
newly-enlisted  companies.  The  organization  of  the  regiment  having  been 
completed,  on  the  29th  of  October  it  left  Elmira  for  Washington,  where  it  ar- 
rived the  evening  of  the  31st    On  the  morning  of  November  ist  it  went  into 


1 196  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

camp  on  East  Capitol  Hill,  where  the  school  of  instruction  for  light  artillery 
(Camp  Barry)  had  been  established.  There  Battery  D  remained  until  the 
3d  of  March,  1862. 

The  discipline  and  drill  of  the  regiment  was  under  the  immediate  super- 
vision of  Colonel  Bailey  and  his  regimental  field  officers.  Battery  D  there 
received  its  equipment  of  four  three-inch  rifled  guns,  its  horses,  and  other 
ordnance  and  quartermaster's  supplies.  The  first  battery  judged  fit  to  go  to 
the  front  was  B,  Captain  Pettit.    The  second  was  D. 

On  the  3d  of  March  it  was  shipped  by  steamer  from  Washington  to  Liver- 
pool Point  on  the  Maryland  shore,  forty  miles  south  of  Washington.  From 
that  day,  March  3,  1862,  Battery  D  was  in  active  field  service  until  it  was 
mustered  out,  June  18,  1865, —  a  full  term  of  service  from  the  date  of  muster, 
of  3  years  and  9  months,  or  a  total  of  1,380  days. 

When  we  had  been  here  but  two' days  one  section  of  the  battery  was  de- 
tailed to  do  duty  opposite  the  blockade  batteries.  Lieutenant  Winslow  was 
in  command  of  the  section,  which  occupied  a  small  earthwork  near  the  bank 
of  the  river.  At  this  point  the  river  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half  wide.  About 
noon  I  was  at  the  section  and  gave  the  men  permission  to  throw  a  few  shells 
into  the  enemy's  works  across  the  river,  my  object  being  to  test  the  shells 
and  the  accuracy  in  firing  by  the  men.  The  first  shell  exploded  beyond  the 
enemy's  works,  and  the  second  directly  in  the  face  of  the  works,  upon  which 
the  enemy  opened  on  us  with  their  heavy  guns  and  with  great  vigor.  The 
majority  of  their  shells  fell  close  to  us,  though  many  of  them  went  very  wild. 
They  threw  in  all  twenty-three  shells,  mainly  from  eight  and  ten-inch  guns. 
We  threw  in  all  twelve  shells.  No  one  of  my  men  was  hurt  The  men  were 
cool  and  enjoyed  this,  their,  first  little  fight. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  the  last  detachment  of  Hooker's  Division,  including 
the  battery,  left  the  Maryland  shore  on  transports  to  join  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  near  Yorktown,  and  on  the  loth,  it  arrived  in  the  harbor  at  Fort 
Monroe.  On  the  13th  it  reported  to  General  Hooker,  whose  division  had  then 
become  the  Second  Division  of  the  Third  Corps.  There  it  went  into  the  line 
of  battle  in  the  works  before  Yorktown,  and  there  it  remained  during  the 
siege. 

The  night  of  the  3d  of  May,  the  enemy  evacuated  their  works  in  and  about 
Yorktown,  and  fell  back  towards  Richmond.  On  the  morning  of  May  4th 
the  battery  moved  with  the  division  to  take  part  in  the  pursuit  of  the  retiring 
Confederate  army. 

As  Johnston  fell  back  from  Yorktown  towards  Richmond,  McQellan,  on 
the  morning  of  the  4th,  undertook  the  pursuit.  Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
4th  Hooker  overtook  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy  near  Williamsburg,  and 
early  in  the  morning  of  the  5th  attacked.  From  early  morning  till  late  in 
the  afternoon.  Hooker's  Division,  alone,  fought  the  battle. 

In  the  afternoon,  when  Hopker's  Division  was  depleted  and  thoroughly  ex- 
hausted, Kearny,  with  his  division,  reached  the  field.  He  reinforced  Hooker 
and  relieved  his  advanced  line  of  battle  and  saved  the  day.  Considering  the 
number  of  troops  engaged  this  was  one  of  the  most  desperately  fought  battles 
of  the  war.    The  battle  was  confined  to  the  front  of  Hooker's  Division. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


1 197 


Battery  D  became  engaged  soon  after  sunrise,  taking  position  in  an  open 
field  and  in  an  exposed  situation.  It  was  on  the  right  of  and  a  little  in  ad- 
vance of  Hooker's  line  of  battle.  It  remained  in  action,  and  in  its  first  and 
exposed  position,  till  the  middle  of  the  afternoon.  The  officers  and  men  in 
this,  their  first  battle,  bore  themselves  magnificently.  The  battery  suffered 
severely.  Lieutenant  Stolper  was  slightly  wounded,  and  young  Garrison,  of 
Gouverneur,  was  killed  early  in  the  morning  by  a  solid  shot.  He  was  the 
first  man  of  the  battery  killed. 

The  company  on  that  field  did  not  use  its  own  guns.  The  first  battery 
ordered  into  position  was  Battery  H,  First  United  States  Artillery.  While 
going  into  position  the  enemy  opened  upon  it  with  sharpshooters  and  artil- 
lery from  Fort  Magruder,  700  yards  in  front.  Two  officers  and  several  men 
were  struck  at  once,  when  the  enlisted  men  stampeded,  leaving  their  guns. 
Major  Wainwright  called  on  Battery  D  for  volunteers  to  man  the  guns  of  the 
regulars.  The  officers  and  cannoneers  went  forward  and  served  the  battery 
through  the  day. 

Ed.  W.  Anderson  recalls  the  following  incident  of  the  battle  of  Williams- 
burg.   I  also  distinctly  recall  it. 

Anderson  says :  "  The  Rebels  had  made  a  charge  to  the  left  of  our  position, 
and  drove  our  line  into  the  fallen  timber  and  the  woods  which  came  close  up 
on  our  left.  Then  they  were  repulsed  and  driven  back.  Our  battery  was  not 
engaged  at  the  moment.  George  Westcott,  a  gunner,  had  gone  out  alone  to 
see  how  the  land  lay  between  the  two  lines.  In  returning  he  saw  in  front  of 
him  three  stalwart  Rebels,  who,  in  some  way,  were  separated  from  their  line. 
They  were  between  him  and  the  battery.  He  had  an  unloaded  gun  in  his 
hand  which  he  had  picked  up.  He  stepped  behind  a  tree  and  ordered  these 
three  men  to  throw  down  their  arms^  or  he  would  order  his  men  to  fire.  They, 
thinking  he  had  a  squad  of  men  with  him,  threw  down  their  guns.  He  then 
marched  them  into  the  battery  in  front  of  his  empty  gun.  They  were  much 
chagrined  at  their  ignoble  capture.  You  then  sent  them  to  the  rear  under 
two  or  three  of  our  men  armed  with  revolvers.  George  Westcott  was  killed 
at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville.    He  was  an  excellent  soldier." 

It  was  on  the  field  of  Williamsburg  the  battery  acquired  the  reputation  for 
discipline,  endurance,  and  reckless  bravery,  which  remained  with  it  during  the 
war,  and  which,  too,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  it  maintained. 

The  battle  of  Seven  Pines  opened  on  the  31st  of  May  by  the  enemy  attack- 
ing the  Fourth  and  Second  Corps  in  their  partly-built  earthworks.  At  that 
time  the  Third  Corps  was  in  camp  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Chickahominy 
River,  at  White  Oak  Swamp  Bridge. 

While  the  battle  of  the  31st  was  in  progress  it  was  moved  rapidly  to  the  front, 
and  in  the  evening  relieved  the  Fourth  Corps,  which  had  suffered  fearfully. 
On  the  morning  of  June  ist  it  moved  forward  and  engaged  the  enemy.  It, 
together  with  the  reinforced  Second  Corps,  gained  a  complete  victory  in  the 
forenoon,  and  drove  the  enemy  from  the  field.  The  battery  again  did  good 
service. 

In  the  battle  of  the  31st,  Battery  A,  of  the  First  New  York  Light  Artillery, 
occupied  a.  redoubt  at  the  Twin  Houses,  where  it  was  captured.    Col.  Guilford 


1198  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

D.  Bailey,  of  our  regiment,  was  killed  in  this  redoubt  while  spiking  the  guns 
after  all  of  Battery  A's  horses  had  been  killed.  In  the  rear  of  the  redoubt 
Major  Van  Valkenburgh,  also  of  our  regiment,  was  killed.  Maj.  C.  H.  Wain- 
wright  succeeded  Colonel  Bailey  as  colonel  of  the  regiment. 

After  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  and  the  reoccupation  of  the  field,  the  Third 
Corps  occupied  the  works  from  which  the  Fourth  Corps  had  been  forced. 
Battery  D  occupied  the  redoubt  at  the  Twin  Houses  in  which  Battery  A  had 
been,  and  where  Colonel  Bailey  had  been  killed.  All  the  works  on  the  line 
were  finished  and  made  absolutely  impregnable  against  an  assault  in  front. 

There  the  battery  remained,  now  and  then  taking  part  in  some  skirmish  in 
front  growing  out  of  the  pushing  forward  of  either  our  picket  line  or  by  the 
enemy  doing  the  same,  until  the  2Sth  of  June.  On  that  day  it  moved  to  the 
front  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Oak  Grove.  After  the  battle  the  battery 
returned  to  the  redoubt,  remaining  there  while  the  army  awaited  developments 
on  the  north  bank  of  the  Chickahominy  River. 

An  incident  occurred  while  the  battery  was  in  the  redoubt  at  the  Twin 
Houses,  which  might  be  mentioned  on  account  of  its  amusing  character.  At 
our  army  headquarters  a  balloon  was  frequently  sent  up  to  secure  information 
relative  to  the  enemy's  position  and  movements.  The  Richmond  papers  each 
day  mentioned  the  fact  that  a  mammoth  balloon  was  being  made  in  Richmond, 
and  when  completed  would  also  be  sent  up  to  examine  our  position.  On  a 
perfectly  clear  forenoon  we  saw  this  balloon,  probably  four  miles  from  us  and 
well  up.    I  asked  General  Hooker's  permission  to  scare  the  balloonist  down. 

Placing  one  of  our  rifled  guns  in  front  of  the  redoubt,  I  sunk  the  trail  to 
secure  elevation,  and  giving  the  fuse  twenty  seconds,  fired  at  the  balloon.  Of 
course  I  did  not  get  more  than  half  way  to  it.  I  gave  the  gun  more  elevation, 
and  the  fuse  twenty-five  seconds,  and  gained  on  the  first  shot.  The  shells 
exploded  well.  I  then  gave  still  greater  elevation  and  thirty  seconds.  Upon 
the  explosion  of  that  shell  the  balloon  was  quickly  hauled  down.  I  had  done 
my  best,  thirty  seconds  being  the  longest  time  fuse  I  had.  I  think  the  last 
shell  exploded  a  mile  short  of  the  balloon.  In  the  three  shots  I  had  each  time 
gained  in  elevation  and  distance.  The  man  in  the  balloon  concluded  to  come 
down  and  take  no  more  chances.  We  never  saw  the  balloon  again.  General 
Longstreet,  in  one  of  his  articles  in  the  Century  Magazine,  speaks  of  that 
balloon  as  having  been  made  from  silk  dresses  donated  by  the  ladies  of  Rich- 
mond. 

The  battle  of  Peach  Orchard  was  fought  on  the  morning  of  the  29th.  It  was 
not  much  of  a  battle  at  best,  but  the  battery  was  in  what  there  was  of  it.  It 
delayed  the  advance  of  Magruder  about  five  hours.  About  2  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  same  day,  when  the  Third  Corps  was  moving  from  the  Peach 
Orchard  field  to  White  Oak  Swamp,  General  Heintzelman  ordered  the  bat- 
tery to  report  to  the  commanding  officer  at  Savage  Station. 

It  was  confidently  believed  that  the  enemy  would  attack  at  that  point.  The 
attack  was  made  at  5  o'clock  and  the  battle  of  Savage  Station  was  fought.  In 
it  the  battery  bore  an  important  part.  It  opened  the  fight  for  General  Sumner 
by  firing  the  first  shot,  which,  by  the  way,  the  Richmond  papers  stated  killed 
Brigadier  General  Griffith,  of  the  Confederate  army.  The  battery  worked  to 
the  utmost  of  its  ability  during  the  entire  battle. 


New  "yoRK  AT  Gettysburg.  1199 

The  Richmond  papers  had  for  many  days  been  speaking  of  a  moving  bat- 
tery, and  predicted  for  it  the  most  profound  results  whenever  it  could  be 
brought  into  position  where  it  could  be  made  available.  This  machine  was 
made  by  mounting  a  siege  gun  upon  a  platform  car,  and  building  up  around 
the  gun  an  iron-clad  protection.  The  papers  affectionately  denominated  the 
whole  the  "  Railroad  Merrimac."  This  machine  was  moved  to  the  front  on 
the  railroad  in  an  extension  of  the  enemy's  line  of  battle.  It  was  cautiously 
pushed  through  a  cut  until  it  came  within  the  range  of  the  guns  of  Battery  D. 
This  Railroad  Merrimac  fired  one  shot,  when  instantly  the  four  guns  of  the 
battery  were  turned  upon  it.  It  fired  a  second  shot,  but  before  it  could  fire 
a  third  was  disabled  and  was  pushed  to  the  rear. 

Ed.  W.  Anderson  in  a  letter  says :  "  Do  not  fail  to  speak  of  how  our  little 
rifled  guns  knocked  out  that  Railroad  Battery  the  enemy  ran  out  on  a  car. 
How  we  just  swept  that  four-gun  battery  which  was  run  out  into  the  clearing 
on  the  right  of  the  railroad  gun,  clean  off  the  face  of  the  earth.  It  only  took 
a  half  dozen  shots.  We  cleaned  up  that  job  and  finished  them  before  the 
other  batteries  on  our  left  got  to  work." 

It  is  true  that  in  a  very  few  minutes,  and  by  a  very  few  shots  we  dismounted 
and  wrecked  a  battery  so  completely  that  the  men  deserted  it.  It  Jay  where 
it  went  into  action  until  after  the  fight  closed.  Our  battery  accomplished  this 
before  our  other  batteries  got  to  work.  The  enemy  during  the  entire  fight 
were  in  the  woods,  while  our  troops  were  in  the  open  field.  This  battle,  con- 
sidered as  an  independent  engagement,  was  a  clean  victory  for  General  Sumner. 

In  a  letter  written  to  my  brother  on  the  5th  of  September,  1862,  giving  an 
account  of  the  incidents  of  the  battle  of  Savage  Station,  I  wrote  the  following 
paragraph :  ^ 

"As  General  Smith  was  moving  off.  General  Sumner's  Corps  was  occupy- 
ing the  ground  between  the  Williamsburg  Road  and  the  Station.  I  had  no 
orders  to  report  to  him,  nor  did  I  desire  to  do  so.  I  determined  to  get  back 
to  General  Hooker's  Division  as  quickly  as  possible.  To  do  this  I  was  com- 
pelled to  follow  the  main  road  back  a  mile,  to  strike  the  new  road  taken  by 
the  Third  Corps;  but  the  space  between  where  I  was  and  the  junction  of  the 
roads  had  been  entirely  abandoned  by  our  troops.  I  did  not  feel  safe  in  taking 
the  two  batteries  back  over  so  exposed  a  situation.  With  only  an  orderly  I 
rode  back,  and  when  near  the  junction  of  the  roads  I  saw  the  enemy's  skir- 
mishers moving  in  splendid  style  over  our  second  line  of  works.  As  a  skir- 
mish line  they  were  moving  rapidly.  I  was  within  easy  musket  range  of  them 
when  I  first  saw  them,  but  for  some  reason  they  did  not  fire.  I  turned  to  go 
back,  and  when  passing  the  timber  on  the  north  side  of  the  road,  where  I 
had  no  thought  of  the  enemy  being,  a  full  battery  opened  fire  on  me  at  a' 
distance  of  not  more  than  200  or  300  yards.  The  fire  was  at  me  and  the  orderly 
only,  the  shells  passing  uncomfortably  near  our  heads.  Had  canister  been 
used  we  could  not  have  escaped.  I  had  often  been  a  target  for  infantry  sharp- 
shooters, but  to  be  a  target  for  sharpshooting  by  a  whole  battery  was  new 
to  me. 

"  Upon  reaching  my  battery  I  found  it  had  been  ordered  into  position  by 
General  Sumner,  as  his  attention  had  been  attracted  by  the  firing  at  me.    My 


1200  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

battery  had  been  ordered  in  while  his  own  had  not.  So  you  see  borrowed 
artillery  like  other  borrowed  property  is  to  be  used  up  before  the  borrower 
uses  his  own." 

As  the  succeeding  paragraph,  in  my  letter  to  the  one  quoted  above,  con- 
tains some  items  of  interest,  as  well  as  the  relation  of  an  amusing  incident,  I 
will  insert  it  here.  It  also  gives  a  glimpse  of  a  personal  characteristic  of  a 
prominent  corps  commander  and  a  most  excellent  general  officer. 

"  General  Sumner  and  stafi  were  upon  a  rise  of  ground  just  in  front  of  his 
own  infantry,  and  a  little  way  in  rear  of  my  own  battery,  as  it  then  stood  ready 
for  action.  They  had  no  intimation  of  the  enemy's  approach,  except  the  artil- 
lery fire  spoken  of.  My  military  address  had  been  acquired  in  my  service 
under  Generals  Heintzelman  and  Hooker,  neither  of  whom  could  be  forced 
to  express  surprise  or  excitement  under  any  circumstances,  regardless  of  what 
the  condition  or  surroundings  might  be,  or  how  great  the  momentary  pressure. 
The  voice  must  not  be  raised  above  the  usual  tone,  or  any  personal  anxiety 
shown.  The  quiet  address  and  conversation  of  gentlemen  must  always  be  ob- 
served. Being  about  to  address  a  new  commander  I  was  exceptionally  on  my 
guard.  Riding  up  to  the  general,  I  raised  my  cap,  and  said,  '  General,  I  am 
just  from  the  front  and  the  enemy  are  moving  against  you  in  force.'  The 
old  man  looked  at  me  in  astonishment  for  an  instant,  and  then  with  appa- 
rently the  greatest  excitement,  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  '  What  do  you 
say?  How  do  you  know?  Who  are  you?'  With  the  same  manner  and  tone 
as  before  I  explained  in  as  few  words  as  possible.  Again,  he  in  the  same 
manner  and  tone  of  voice  said:  'Where  is  Heintzelman?  Where  has  he 
gone?  Where  did  he  get  his  orders  to  move  off  and  leave  me  exposed?  Why 
did  he  not  give  me  notice?  If  there  is  a  reverse  to  our  arms  this  evening 
tTiere  will  be  a  fearful  responsibility  resting  on  some  one.'  (Meaning  Heintzel- 
man.) So  he  ran  on,  not  waiting  for  a  reply.  But  the  conversation,  if  it  could 
be  called  such,  was  cut  square  in^two  in  the  middle  of  the  sentence,  by  a  shell 
dropping  within  a  few  yards  of  us,  when  he  said  to  me,  '  Silence  that  battery.' 
Of  course  I  opened  fire  on  it." 

I  have  since  seen  accounts  in  the  Richmond  papers  stating  that  the  first 
shell  fired  by  us  that  evening  killed  Brigadier  General  Griffith,  of  Mississippi, 
commanding  the  brigade  which  opened  the  fight.  If  this  report  is  correct  he 
was  killed  by  the  first  shot  I  fired  after  this  remarkable  exhibition  by  General 
Sumner.  It  is  stated  that  General  Griffith's  brigade  was  supporting  the  bat- 
tery which  first  opened  fire  on  us. 

At  the  close  of  the  battle  General  Sumner  ordered  the  battery  to  report  to 
its  own  command.  In  doing  so  it  moved  on  the  main  road  across  White  Oak 
Swamp  Bridge,  past  Glendale,  and  on  towards  Malvern  Hill.  At  Charles  City 
Cross  Roads  it  reported  to  General  Hooker  in  person  at  the  moment  the  battle 
of  Gle»dale  opened.  The  general  said  the  battery  was  being  overworked,  and 
directed  it  to  move  on  to  Malvern  Hill,  and  report  to  any  officer  found  in 
command. 

It  had  moved  about  a  half  mile  when  the  battle  raged  with  great  fury.  I 
halted  the  battery  without  orders  and  went  into  position  where,  under  the 
direction  of  the  nearest  brigade  commander,  it  did  effective  service.    An  hour 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1201 

later  a  prolonged  lull  occurred  at  the  front,  where  the  advantage  appeared  to 
be  with  our  line.  The  battery  then  proceeded,  in  compliance  with  General 
Hooker's  instructions,  to  Malvern  Hill,  which  it  reached  between  one  and  two 
hours  before  sunset. 

Early  the  next  morning,  July  2d,  the  enemy  made  a  dash  from  the  woods 
directly  in  front  of  the  battery,  evidently  believing  they  could  secure  the  crest 
of  the  hill  upon  the  main  road  from  Glendale.  At  that  moment  I  was  absent 
with  General  Hooker.  General  Griffin  refused  to  give  Lieutenant  Winslow 
instructions  to  open  fire,  and  Winslow,  acting  upon  his  own  judgment,  opened. 
He  was  joined  in  the  firing  by  Captain  Bramhall,  who  was  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
to  the  right,  without  orders.  Winslow  and  Bramhall  secured  an  admirable 
cross-fire  on  this  body  of  infantry,  and  both  fired  rapidly.  They  broke  up  the 
enemy's  lines  and  they  fell  back  into  the  woods.  Two  other  batteries  joined 
in  this  firing  but  fired  very  slow  and  aided  but  little,  if  any,  in  the  results. 
Our  infantry  did  nothing  in  this  affair,  as  the  enemy  fell  back  under  cover 
of  the  forests. 

When  Hooker's  Division  went  into  position  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  the 
battery  joined  it  and  went  into  position  with  it,  and,  of  course,  had  its  ordinary 
share  of  work  to  do  until  the  main  battle  of  Malvern  Hill  had  been  fought 
and  won. 

Anderson  furnishes  the  following  reminiscence  of  the  battle:  "The  position 
of  our  battery  was  on  the  right  of  the  line  of  several  batteries.  Almost  di- 
rectly in  our  front  and  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  us,  was  a  farmhouse  sur- 
rounded by  more  than  the  usual  number  of  outbuildings,  old  stone  and  rail 
fences  grown  vfp  to  bushes,  all  of  which  made  a  most  excellent  cover  for  sharp- 
shooters. A  large  number  of  these  had  taken  advantage  of  the  cover  thus 
afforded.  An  aide  came  to  you  from  some  general  and  requested  you  to 
clear  out  that  nest  of  sharpshooters.  You  opened  fire  with  the  right  gun. 
Corporal  Sterling  as  gunner,  giving  him  directions  for  cutting  fuse.  He  first 
opened  fire  and  was  followed  by  the  other  guns.  As  Sterling  just  then  was 
doing  the  fancy  shooting,  you  ordered  him  to  put  a  shot  or  two  into  a  large 
barn  to  the  right  of  and  beyond  the  house.  The  first  shot  went  through,  and 
the  second  exploded  inside  of  the  barn  setting  it  on  fire.  It  burned  with  great 
rapidity.  A  few  more  shells  cleared  the  sharpshooters  out  from  that  locality. 
As  you  ceased  firing  I  was  directed  to  go  with  three  or  four  men  to  a  ravine 
on  our  right  for  water.  A  few  rods  away  from  the  battery  I  was  hailed  by  a 
general  officer,  surrounded  by  his  staff.  He  asked  me  whose  battery  that  was. 
I  answered  Osborn's  Battery,  First  New  York,  He  said  to  the  staff,  '  That 
is  the  Third  Corps  Battery  detailed  for  the  rear  guard  of  the  army,  and  which 
we  supported  at  Savage  Station.  I  never  saw  such  deadly  work  done  by  a 
battery  as  I  witnessed  at  Savage  Station,  and  now  here  to-day.  Thank  you 
for  the  information.' " 

The  battle  of  Malvern  Hill  was  a  desperate  one.  The  crest  on  which  it 
was  fought  was  narrow.  The  several  assaults  made  by  the  enemy  on  our 
position  were  made  in  rapid  succession.  They  struck  with  marvelous  force 
and  the  staying  power  of  our  line  was  equal  to  the  force  by  which  it  was  struck. 
It  was  but  one  of  the  seven  days  battles,  yet  considered  independently  it  should 
rank  high  among  the  great  battles  of  the  country. 

76 


I202  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

After  the  battle  the  army  continued  its  march  to  that  almost  natural  fortress, 
Harrison's  Landing.  There  it  went  into  camp  and  intrenched,  and  there  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  remained  until  it  returned  to  Alexandria  to  take  part 
in  the  campaign  in  Northern  Virginia  under  General  Pope. 

On  the  nth  of  August,  while  in  camp.  Lieutenant  Winslow,  whose  health 
had  been  seriously  broken  by  the  hardships  of  the  campaign,  left  the  battery 
under  orders  to  enlist  men  for  it. 

While  we  were  in  camp  at  Harrison's  Landing  the  equipment  of  Battery  D 
was  exchanged  from  three-inch  regulation  rifle  guns  to  light  brass  twelve- 
pounders.  This  battery  was  selected,  as  we  were  notified,  as  being  the  best 
one  in  the  division. 

General  McQellan  in  his  final  report  of  the  operations  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  on  the  Peninsula,  in  speaking  of  the  battle  of  Savage  Station,  says : 

"  Osborn's  and  Bramhall's  (Smith's)  Batteries  also  took  part  effectively  in 
this  action,  which  was  continued  with  great  obstinacy  until  8  or  9  p.  m.,  when 
the  enemy  was  driven  from  the  field." 

When  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  left  Harrison's  Landing,  General  Hooker 
marched  his  division  to  Yorktown,  where  it  was  shipped  on  transports  to 
Alexandria. 

At  the  close  of  General  Pope's  campaign  the  Third  Corps  was  detailed  to 
garrison  the  defences  of  Washington,  south  of  the  Potomac.  It  had  suffered 
so  severely  in  the  previous  campaigns  that  it  was  considered  best  to  allow  it 
time  to  recuperate.  For  this  reason  it,  and  the  battery  with  it,  were  not  in 
the  campaign  and  battle  of  Antietam.  The  corps  did  not  move  from  the  de- 
fences until  after  the  army  had  fought  the  battle  and  recrossed  the  Potomac 
into  Virginia,  when  the  corps  moved  south  on  the  line  of  the  railroad  to 
Bristoe  Station.  There  it  remained  until  the  army  passed  south  of  and  around 
it,  and  concentrated  at  Falmouth.  At  Falmouth  the  Third  Corps  rejoined  the 
army. 

While  in  the  defences  of  Washington  Battery  D  received  ninety-eight  recruits, 
who  were  enlisted  by  Lieutenant  Winslow.  Among  these  were  several  men, 
who  subsequently  became  commissioned  officers.  Among  them  was  L.  J. 
Richardson,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  battery  when  Captain 
Winslow  vras  wounded,  and  who  commanded  it  through  the  greater  part  of 
the  Wilderness  campaign.  He,  in  turn,  was  seriously  wounded  at  Peebles' 
Farm,  and  thereafter  ceased  to  be  actively  connected  with  the  battery. 

While  we  were  lying  at  Bristoe  Station,  on  the  20th  or  21st  of  November, 
and  after  the  army  had  passed  the  Third  Corps  on  its  way  to  Falmouth,  an 
alarm  was  received  at  corps  headquarters  that  a  large  body  of  the  enemy  was 
approaching  from  the  south.  General  Sickles  ordered  Gen.  Frank  Patterson, 
with  his  brigade  and  Battery  D,  to  move  four  miles  south  and  report  what 
was  in  front.  Patterson  reached  his  position  about  sunset.  The  night  was 
cold  and  clear  and  the  moon  shone  bright.  Between  9  and  10  o'clock  the 
enemy  was  seen  going  into  position  on  two  sides  of  us.  Their  strength  could 
not  be  determined,  but  of  their  movements  there  was  no  doubt.  I,  with 
Lieutenant  Winslow,  looked  at  them  a  half  hour,  saw  them  come  up  and  go 
into  position  for  attack.    There  was  no  doubt  an  attack  was  to  be  speedily 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1203 

made.  Patterson  believed  the  enemy  too  strong  for  his  small  force  to  withstand 
their  charge  and  ordered  his  command  to  fall  back  on  the  main  body  of  the 
corps.    This  it  did  in  perfect  order. 

For  retiring  without  orders  Sickles  placed  Patterson  under  arrest.  This 
greatly  humiliated  him,  and  the  next  night  he  shot  himself,  while  in  his  tent, 
through  the  heart.  He  was  a  good  officer  and  a  kind  and  genial  gentleman. 
Battery  D  had  been  with  him  in  this  unfortunate  and  misunderstood  move- 
ment, and  at  his  burial  it  fired  the  military"  salute,  to  a  brigadier  general,  at 
his  grave. 

The  battle  of  Fredericksburg  was  fought  on  the  13th  of  December.  The 
battery  lost  one  man  killed  and  one  wounded.  The  most  charitable  comment 
that  can  be  made  on  that  battle  is  that  the  strategy  and  grand  tactics  were 
simply  foolish,  and  that  the  losses  resulting  to  the  army  and  the  country  from 
that  foohshness  were  enormous. 

General  Hooker  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  army  on  the  26th 
of  January,  1863.  By  special  order,  dated  February  6th,  the  battery  was  re- 
turned to  the  Second  Division,  Third  Corps.  That  is,  it  was  returned  to  the 
command  from  which  Burnside  had  taken  it.  Upon  the  return  of  the  bat- 
tery to  the  Third  Corps,  I  was  assigned  to  duty  on  the  staff  of  General  Berry, 
then  commanding  the  division,  as  chief  of  artillery.  First  Lieut.  George  B. 
Winslow  took  command  of  the  battery.  At  that  time  my  immediate  official 
connection  with  Battery  D  ceased. 

The  battery  remained  in  its  camp  until  the  corps  commenced  its  march  to 
Chancellorsville,  on  the  29th  of  April.  On  the  30th  it  took  position  on  the 
north  of  the  Rappahannock  River,  near  the  United  States  Ford,  to  sweep  the 
plain  on  the  south  side,  if  it  should  become  necessary.  On  the  31st  it  crossed 
the  river,  and  on  the  2d  of  May,  about  noon,  moved  to  the  Chancellorsville 
House.  There  it  halted  until  the  results  of  the  collision  between  Jackson's 
command  and  the  Eleventh  Corps  could  be  known. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  General  Berry  was  ordered,  with  his  division,  to  the 
front  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  Eleventh  Corps.  The  division  went  into 
position  across  the  plank  road  in  the  edge  of  the  forest,  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  from  the  Chancellorsville  House.  I  assigned  the  battery  to  a  position  on 
a  slight  elevation  200  yards  in  rear  of  the  division  line  of  battle.  The  enemy's 
pursuit  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  was  promptly  checked  by  the  Third  Corps,  the 
principal  factor  in  accomplishing  which  was  the  artillery  of  Berry's  Division, 
Battery  D  being  very  active  in  this  work. 

Early  in  the  evening  heavy  firing  occurred,  during  which  Stonewall  Jackson 
received  the  wounds  from  which  he  died.  He  received  those  wounds  directly 
in  front  of  Battery  D  and  not  more  than  300  yards  from  it.  The  battery  took 
an  active  part  in  all  the  operations  of  the  evening. 

The  fiercest  fighting  during  that  battle  occurred  in  the  morning  of  the  3d 
of  May,  immediately  in  front  of  the  battery,  and  in  easy  play  of  its  guns.  The 
battery  fought  to  the  utmost  of  its  ability,  until  its  ammunition  was  exhausted, 
and  the  enemy's  infantry  were  within  100  feet  of  its  line.  It  then  withdrew 
with  all  its  guns,  with  the  same  good  order,  regularity,  and  precision  as  if  on 


1204  New  York  at  GETTYSBuna 

drill    In  this  battle  the  enemy  gained  the  victory,  and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
returned  to  its  camp  at  Falmouth. 

General  Sickles,  in  his  report  of  the  battle,  speaks  in  general  terms  of  his 
artillery  and  as  a  whole,  and  does  not  individualize  batteries.    He  says : 

"  Osborn,  Berry's  chief  of  artillery,  placed  Dimmick's  and  WinsloVs  Bat- 
teries on  the  crest  of  the  hill  perpendicular  to  the  road  and  300  or  400  yards  in 
rear  of  the  line  of  battle.  A  section  of  Dimmick's  was  thrown  forward  on  tiie 
plank  road  near  the  infantry,  a  most  admirable  disposition,  promptly  made." 

Captain  Randolph,  the  Third  Corps  chief  of  artillery,  in  his  report  says: 
"  Lieutenant  Winslow  commanding  Osborn's  Battery  handled  his  command 
very  creditably." 

Lieutenant  Winslow,  in  his  report,  speaking  of  the  closing  scenes  of  the 
battle  on  the  line  where  the  main  battle  was  fought,  the  morning  of  the  3d, 
says: 

"Just  before  the  last  charge  of  the  Jersey  Brigade,  in  front  of  my  battery, 
the  enemy  came  down  in  soUd  masses,  covering,  as  it  were,  the  whole  ground 
in  front  of  our  lines,  with  at  least  a  dozen  stand  of  colors  Qying  in  their  midst. 
I  immediately  ordered  my  guns  loaded  with  solid  shot,  and,  as  oar  infantry 
fell  back  and  wheeled  to  the  left,  unmasking  the  battery,  fired  at  about  one 
and  a  half  degrees  elevation.  The  efTect  was  most  terrible.  A  few  rounds 
sufficed  to  drive  the  enemy  in  great  confusion  up  the  hill,  \*diereupon  our  in- 
fantry again  charged  and  took  several  stands  erf  colors. 

"  The  enemy  then  crossed  the  road  and  came  down  in  the  woods  upon  our 
right  Meanwhile  the  enemy  continued  to  advance,  our  own  troops  slowly 
retiring  before  them.  In  a  few  moments  the  former  came  out  of  the  woods 
not  more  than  100  yards  from  the  muzzles  of  my  guns,  planted  their  colors 
by  the  side  of  the  road  and  commenced  picking  off  my  men  and  horses.  When 
a  sufficient  number  had  rallied  around  their  colors,  my  guns  having  been  pre- 
viously loaded  with  canister,  I  gave  an  order  to  fire.  In  this  way  they  were 
repeatedly  driven  back.  They  were,  however,  rapidly  closing  around  us  in 
the  woods  upon  our  right,  not  more  than  twenty-five  or  thirty  yards  from  my 
right  gun,  when  I  received  your  order  to  limber  up  and  retire.  My  ammuni- 
tion was  exhausted.  I  limbered  from  the  left  successively,  continuing  to  fire 
until  my  last  piece  was  limbered." 

A  few  days  after  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  I  was  commissioned  to  a 
higher  grade,  and  Winslow  became  captain  of  the  battery.  I  was  assigned  to 
duty  in  another  corps,  and  Battery  D  passed  out  from  under  my  command. 
I  think  I  saw  it  but  two  or  three  times  after  I  was  assigned  to  duty  elsewhere. 

The  battery  remained  at  Falmouth  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  until 
Lee's  army  entered  upon  the  campaign  which  culminated  in  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg. The  army  on  the  13th  of  June  started  in  pursuit  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  while  at  the  same  time  it  covered  the  city  of  Washington  from  an 
attempt  to  capture  it  by  Lee's  army.  On  this  campaign  the  battery  crossed  the 
Potomac  River  at  Edwards  Ferry,  June  21st,  moving  with  the  Third  Corps. 
It  arrived  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg  on  the  2d  day  of  July,  twenty-five  years 
ago  to-day. 

The  corps  at  once  went  into  position  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  line  of  battle. 
As  the  line  was  being  formed  the  battery  took  position  on  the  left  of  General 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1205 

Ward's  Brigade.  This  was  the  left  of  the  corps  line.  At  noon,  however,  the 
battery  was  withdrawn  from  the  extreme  left  and  placed  in  position  on  the 
right  of  Ward's  Brigade,  which  rested  in  a  wheatfield.  The  position  it  then 
held  was  the  exact  site  on  which  this  monument  now  stands.  The  Wheatfield 
has  since  become  historical. 

The  battery  commenced  firing  about  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  con- 
tinued active  until  the  enemy  forced  our  line  of  battle  from  its  positiom  The 
enemy's  infantry  was  in  speaking  distance  of  the  men  of  the  battery  when  it 
retired.  It  suffered  severely,  yet  not  one  man  flinched  or  failed  to  perform 
his  whole  duty. 

Captain  Winslow  commanded  the  battery.  Lieutenant  Crego  commanded 
the  right,  Lieutenant  Richardson  the  centre,  and  Lieutenant  Ames  the  left  sec- 
tions, respectively.  Of  these  ofificers  Captain  Winslow  died  from  disease  re- 
sulting from  wounds  received  in  the  Wilderness;  Lieutenant  Ames  was  shot 
dead  at  Cold  Harbor;  and  Lieutenant  Richardson  received  wounds  at  Peebles' 
Farm,  from  which  he  has  never  recovered. 

As  they  fought  on  this  field,  they  were  a  corps  of  brave  and  gallant  officers, 
who  commanded  as  brave  and  obedient  a  body  of  men  as  ever  faced  the  enemy 
in  the  heat  and  danger  of  battle.  American  soldiers  never  had  braver  or  more 
honorable  representatives  on  any  battlefield,  than  were  the  officers  and  men  of 
Battery  D,  who  twenty-five  years  ago  to-day  fought  on  the  ground  where  we 
now  stand. 

Captain  Randolph,  chief  of  artillery  of  the  Third  Corps,  in  his  report  of  th« 
part  taken  by  the  artillery  of  the  corps,  says : 

"  On  the  right  of  Smith's  (Battery),  after  passing  a  belt  of  woods,  was  an 
opening,  in  which  I  placed  Winslow's  Battery  of  light  twelve-pounders.  This 
position  was  surrounded  by  woods,  but,  in  my  opinion,  the  line  was  materially 
strengthened  by  this  battery  of  short-range  guns. 

"The  attack,  on  the  left  of  our  line,  involved  Winslow's  Battery.  From 
the  position  of  the  battery  and  of  the  infantry  supporting,  it  was  deemed  best 
for  a  time  to  fire  soHd  shot  into  the  woods  over  our  troops,  who  were  fighting 
in  front,  under  protection  of  a  stone  wall.  This  fire  was  very  effective,  and 
was  continued  till  our  troops  in  front  fell  back  of  his  battery,  when  Captain 
Winslow  used  case  shot,  one  and  one  and  a  half  second  fuse,  ending  with 
canister. 

"  When  the  enemy  had  gained  two  sides  of  the  woods  and  the  position  was 
no  longer  tenable,  Captain  Winslow,  by  command  of  General  Birney,  retired 
handsomely  by  piece,  losing  heavily  during  the  movement.  The  f>osition  of 
Captain  Winslow's  Battery  did  not  seem  to  be  very  good,  owing  to  the  nearness 
of  the  woods  on  all  sides,  but  the  result  proved  that  the  battery  was  able  to 
do  good  service,  and  Captain  Winslow  deserves  credit,  not  only  for  the  good 
working  of  his  battery,  but  for  the  handsome  manner  in  which  he  withdrew 
under  trying  circumstances. 

"  Although  in  this  battle  of  July  2d  each  of  my  batteries  was  compelled  to 
retire,  I  may  be  permitted  to  claim,  in  view  of  the  grand  results  of  the  three 
days'  fighting,  that  they  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the  success  of  our 
arms." 


i2o6  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  left  section,  Ames',  retired  first;  the  right  section,  Crego's,  second; 
and  the  centre  section,  Richardson's,  last.  Thus,  in  this  desperate  struggle  and 
untenable  position,  Richardson,  the  junior  officer  of  the  battery,  withdrew  last 
from  his  position.  It  is  true  the  battery  lost  heavily  while  retiring;  but  of  the 
three  sections,  the  centre  lost  the  most  heavily.  No  more  brave  and  skillful 
act  could  have  been  performed  than  that  of  withdrawing  the  last  two  guns 
from  under  the  heavy  firing  of  the  artillery  and  the  concentrated  musketry  fire 
of  the  enemy  from  three  sides  and  at  short  range. 

Captain  Winslow,  in  his  report  of  the  part  Battery  D  took  in  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  says: 

"  On  the  afternoon  of  July  ist  my  battery  was  left  with  a  brigade  of  the 
First  Division  at  Emmitsburg. 

"At  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  July  2d  I  received  orders  to  march  with  the 
brigade  and  rejoin  the  corps  at  Gettysburg.  When  within  about  three  miles 
of  the  latter  place  the  command  halted  for  a  brief  rest;  but,  being  informed  by 
citizens  that  the  enemy's  skirmishers  were  only  a  mile  distant,  and  advancing 
towards  the  road  upon  which  we  were  marching,  we  immediately  pushed  on, 
reaching  the  corps  about  ii  a.  m.  My  battery  was  put  into  position  in  the 
line  of  battle  then  being  formed  by  the  corps.  An  hour  or  two  later  the  Une 
was  moved  to  the  left  and  front  The  position  assigned  my  battery  was  near 
the  left  of  the  line,  in  a  small  wheatfield  near  the  base  of  Little  Round  Top  hill. 

"  A  battery  of  the  enemy,  posted  nearly  in  my  front,  opened  between  3  and 
4  p.  m.  upon  our  lines.  I  could  only  see  the  smoke  of  their  guns,  as  it  rose 
above  the  tree  tops,  but,  by  command  of  General  Hunt,  fired  a  few  rounds  of 
solid  shot  in  that  direction,  probably  with  no  effect,  as  it  was  evidently  with- 
out the  range  of  my  guns.  Soon  after,  the  two  lines  of  infantry  became  hotly 
engaged;  but  I  was  unable  from  my  obscure  position  to  observe  the  movements 
of  the  troops,  and  was  compelled  to  estimate  distances  and  regulate  my  fire 
from  the  reports  of  our  own  and  the  enemy's  musketry. 

"  By  direction  of  Major  General  Bimey,  I  opened  with  solid  shot,  giving  but 
sufficient  elevation  to  clear  our  own  troops  in  front,  and  firing  in  the  direction 
of  the  heavy  musketry,  lessening  the  range  as  our  troops  fell  back  and  the 
enemy  advanced.  Our  line  of  skirmishers  fell  back  on  their  supports  at  the 
edge  of  the  woods,  little,  if  any,  more  than  400  yards  from  the  front  of  my  guns. 
This  line  was  a  weak  one  and  soon  fell  back,  but  by  using  shell  and  case  shot 
at  about  one  degree  elevation,  and  from  one  to  one  and  a  half  second  fuse,  I 
kept  the  enemy  from  advancing  from  the  cover  of  the  woods.  Having  just 
been  directed  by  General  Bimey,  through  an  aide,  to  closely  watch  the  move- 
ments and  look  for  a  route  upon  which  I  might  withdraw  in  case  it  became 
necessary,  I  rode  through  the  woods,  on  my  left,  perhaps  200  yards  in  width, 
and  found  our  line  there  formed  perpendicular  to  my  own,  instead  of  parallel 
as  I  had  supposed,  facing  from  me  and  closely  pressed  by  the  enemy.  This 
line  soon  fell  back  irregularly,  but  slowly,  passing  in  front  of  and  masking 
my  guns.    A  portion  of  Smith's  Battery,  on  my  left,  also  withdrew  by  my  rear. 

"  The  enemy's  advance  being  within  twenty-five  yards  of  my  left,  and  covered 
by  woods  and  rocks,  I  ordered  my  left  section  limbered,  with  a  view  to  moving 
it  a  short  distance  to  the  left  and  rear.  Before  this  was  accomplished,  the 
enemy  had  advanced  under  cover  of  the  woods  upon  my  right,  and  was  cutting 


New  Yoek  at  GETTYSBURa  1207 

down  my  men  and  horses.  Having  no  supports  in  rear,  and  being  exposed 
to  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  in  front  and  upon  both  flanks,  I  deemed  it  neces- 
sary to  withdraw,  in  order  to  save  my  guns,  which  was  done  by  piece  in 
succession  from  the  left,  continuing  to  fire  until  the  right  and  last  piece  was 
limbered.  Several  horses  were  killed  and  disabled  before  moving  twenty-five 
yards.  In  one  instance  it  became  necessary  to  use  a  limber  of  the  caisson  to 
secure  the  piece.  By  impressing  two  passing  horses  of  Captain  Smith,  not  in 
use,  the  former  was  secured.  Meeting,  immediately  after  leaving  the  field,  Major 
General  Sickles  and  Captain  Randolph,  I  was  ordered  by  them  to  move  my 
battery  to  the  rear  and  refit  as  far  as  possible.  My  battery  was  moved  to 
the  front  next  morning,  but  was  not  engaged  in  the  action  of  that  day. 

"  On  this,  as  on  former  occasions^  my  officers  and  men,  with  scarce  an  ex- 
ception, manifested  a  coolness  and  bravery  highly  commendable,  the  latter 
in  more  than  one  instance  rendering  valuable  aid  after  being  severely  wounded. 
The  casualties  were  10  men  wounded  and  8  missing;  10  horses  killed  and 
disabled.  All  of  my  pieces  could  not  have  been  brought  off  had  my  men 
been  less  brave." 

The  desperate  character  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  I  am  familiar  with.  I 
was  in  command  of  the  artillery  brigade  of  the  Eleventh  Corps,  in  position 
on  Cemetery  Hill,  on  the  identical  ground  now  occupied  by  the  National  Ceme- 
tery, and  where  the  stately  monument  in  memory  and  honor  of  the  officers 
and  men  of  New  York,  who  fell  in  the  battle,  will  to-morrow  be  dedicated  by 
our  comrades.  From  the  morning  of  July  ist,  until  two  hours  before  sunset, 
I  fought  the  artillery  beyond  the  village,  and  from  that  hour  until  the  close 
oi  the  battle  my  command  held  that  hill.  It  took  part  in  all  the  fighting  on 
all  that  part  of  the  field  during  the  three  days.  During  the  heavy  cannonading 
preceding  Pickett's  grand  charge,  I  had,  in  addition  to  my  own  command, 
several  batteries  drawn  from  the  Artillery  Reserve  of  the  army. 

So  far  in  this  narrative  I  have  been  able  to  confirm  its  correctness  by  reference 
to  and  extracts  from  the  War  Record  published  by  Congress.  From  this  point 
forward  I  have  used  such  reliable  nonofficial  information  as  I  could  obtain, — 
such  as  letters  written  in  the  field,  memoranda  made  at  the  time,  and  diaries 
kept  in  the  field.  In  addition  I  have  had  the  kind  co-operation  of  officers  and 
men  in  giving  me  facts  as  they  remembered  them.  The  narrative  may  be 
relied  upon  as  substantially  correct  in  all  particulars. 

The  battery  remained  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg  with  the  Third  Corps  two 
days  after  the  battle.  It  then  took  up  the  march  and  followed  the  trail  of 
Lee's  retreating  army,  until  Lee  had  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Williamsport 

On  the  23d  of  July,  the  battle  of  Wapping  Heights  was  fought.  Sergeant 
Thayer  says  of  this  fight  that  it  could  hardly  be  rated  as  a  battle,  estimated 
by  the  standard  of  most  of  the  battles  in  which  the  battery  was  engaged.  The 
Third  Corps  passed  through  the  gap  in  the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains,  with  the 
intention  of  intercepting  the  rear  of  Lee's  column.  At  Wapping  Heights  the 
corps  came  in  sight  of  Lee's  wagon  train,  but  was  not  able  to  reach  it. 

Winslow  was  directed  to  take  one  section  of  the  battery  to  the  top  of 
Wapping  Heights,  and  from  there  shell  the  retreating  column.  This  he  did, 
but  reached  the  summit  with  great  difficulty.    It  required  twelve  horses  to 


i2o8  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

draw  a  single  gun  to  the  top  of  the  hill.  When  he  had  reached  his  position 
the  enemy  was  too  distant  for  his  fire  to  be  efifective.  He  remained  in  position 
with  his  section  during  the  afternoon. 

After  crossing  into  Virginia  the  army  of  the  Potomac  moved  slowly  and  by 
easy  marches.  The  Third  Corps  reached  Brandy  Station  on  the  ist  of  August, 
where  it  remained  in  camp  until  the  i6th  of  September. 

While  in  this  camp  two  years  of  the  three  years  term  of  service  for  which 
the  original  loo  men  of  the  battery  had  enlisted  expired.  There  they  re- 
enlisted  for  a  second  term  of  three  years  or  during  the  war.  They  had  already 
performed  three  years  of  extraordinary  severe  service.  Many  of  their  comrades 
who  had  enlisted  with  them  in  1861  were  already  dead  or  disabled.  Many 
had  been  killed  in  battle  or  had  died  of  wounds  received,  or  by  disease  con- 
tracted in  the  field  through  exposure,  overwork,  or  other  causes.  Yet  those 
who  lived  and  were  still  able  to  perform  their  duties,  re-enlisted  to  serve  until 
the  war  should  close  and  the  country  be  restored  to  its  original  unity. 

On  November  26th,  the  army  broke  camp  to  move  to  Mine  Run.  After 
a  tedious  march  the  battery  crossed  the  Rapidan  River,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  27th  was  ordered  into  position  on  the  right  of  the  corps.  During  the 
day  the  corps  was  not  engaged  and  the  battery,  at  night,  went  into  park  close 
to  its  position.  It  was  a  bitterly  cold  night;  too  cold  for  officers  or  men  to 
sleep.  The  morning  of  the  28th,  the  battery  was  shifted  to  the  left  of  the  corps 
to  relieve  another  battery  occupying  a  small  redoubt.  This  position  brought 
it  directly  under  the  enemy's  artillery  stationed  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river.  Their  guns  were  in  plain  view,  and  far  too  strong  for  this  battery  to 
withstand.  Consequently,  it  did  not  draw  the -enemy's  fire.  The  battery  re- 
mained in  this  position  till  near  dark  when  it  received  orders  to  draw  out  as 
quietly  as  possible.  This  showed  the  officers  and  men  that  Mine  Run  was  a 
failure.  On  the  3d  of  December,  the  battery  reoccupied  its  old  camp  at  Brandy 
Station,  where  it  went  into  winter  quarters  and  rested  until  April  30,  1864. 

March  5,  1864,  the  battery  was  assigned  to  the  Fifth  Corps.  The  army  was 
now  ready  to  undertake  the  campaign  of  the  Wilderness.  The  battery  moved 
to  Warrenton  Junction,  and  left  that  camp  the  afternoon  of  May  2d.  It  then 
moved  with  the  Fifth  Corps  to  near  Culpeper.  May  3d,  orders  were  received 
to  move  at  midnight,  at  which  hour  it  started  for  the  Wilderness,  and  upon 
the  final  campaign  for  the  destruction  of  Lee's  army.  At  2  o'clock,  on  the 
morning  of  the  4th,  the  corps  crossed  the  Rapidan  River,  and  in  the  afternoon 
went  into  camp  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Robertson's  Tavern. 

At  that  time  it  was  believed  the  enemy  was  in  close  proximity  to  the  division. 
Events  proved  the  enemy  was  even  much  closer  than  our  commanding  gen- 
erals thought.  The  next  day,  the  5th,  at  5  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  battery 
went  into  position  on  the  gfround  where  it  had  gone  into  camp,  to  repel  an 
expected  advance  of  the  enemy.  The  assault  not  having  been  made  im- 
mediately, a  little  later  it  was  advanced  500  yards  to  the  front.  At  this  time 
the  battery,  by  order  of  General  Griffin,  was  separated  into  sections,  and  most 
of  the  day  the  sections  fought  separately.  At  first  our  line  of  battle  secured 
an  advantage,  but  the  enemy  was  reinforced  heavily  and  the  fortunes  of  the 
field  changed.     Our  line  was  driven  back.    While  the  centre  section  of  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1209 

battery  was  being  moved  back  the  enemy  made  a  rush  for  the  guns.  In  five 
minutes  they  had  killed  all  the  horses  except  one,  which  was  cut  loose  and 
ridden  out  by  the  driver. 

It  was  at  this  juncture  that  Captain  Winslow  received  the  wound  which 
permanently  disabled  him,  and  which  in  the  end  was  the  cause  of  his  death. 
At  the  time  he  was  on  foot,  his  horse  having  been  shot.  He  did  not  again 
command  the  battery  in  the  field.  At  the  same  time  Lieutenant  Shelton  was 
taken  prisoner. 

Captain  Winslow  was  a  magnificent  officer,  as  brave  a  man  as  the  war 
developed,  a  gentleman  of  high  order  and  a  most  genial  companion.  There 
were  scores  of  general  officers  in  the  army  whom,  as  competent  military  offi- 
cers he  outranked  as  far  as  they  outranked  him  in  official  grade,  while  as  an 
officer  and  a  gentleman  no  man  in  the  army  outranked  him.  The  friendship 
and  love  his  officers  and  men  bore  him  remained  firm  while  he  lived.  In  the 
affections  of  those  who  knew  and  served  with  him,  his  memory  will  be  fresh 
while  each  one  shall  live. 

The  command  of  the  battery  devolved  upon  Lieutenant  Richardson.  The 
remaining  two  sections,  the  right  and  left,  fought  through  the  day.  At  the 
close  of  the  day  the  battery  was  again  upon  the  ground  where  it  had  camped 
for  the  night,  twenty-four  hours  before.  Meanwhile,  it  had  done  desperate 
fighting  and  had  suffered  greatly  in  the  loss  of  officers,  men,  horses  and  ma- 
terial. 

The  evening  of  the  6th,  an  aide  rode  into  the  battery  and  reported  that 
the  right  of  the  Sixth  Corps  had  been  turned  by  the  enemy  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  enemy  would  be  in  the  battery.  The  guns  were  instantly  put 
into  position  and  the  cannoneers  ready.  The  infantry  on  the  immediate  left 
of  the  battery  stampeded,  fired  their  guns  in  the  air,  and  started  for  the  rear. 
Here  is  an  extract  from  a  memorandum  made  at  the  time. 

"  Here  the  brave  men  of  old  Battery  D  showed  their  character  as  soldiers. 
Not  a  man  stirred  from  his  place.  The  artillerymen  called  to  the  infantry- 
men, 'Cowards!  shame!'  until  they  came  back  and  took  their  places  in  the 
line.  The  alarm  proved  to  be  false.  The  enemy  did  not  get  upon  us,  but 
they  did  force  the  right  of  the  Sixth  Corps  from  its  position.  General  Wads- 
worth  was  killed  in  front  of  the  battery." 

On  May  8th,  the  battle  of  Laurel  Hill  was  fought.  The  enemy  again  at- 
tacked our  line  in  front  of  the  battery,  and  it  opened  fire  on  them.  It  was 
soon,  however,  ordered  to  cease  firing,  but  it  remained  in  position  during 
the  day.  At  daylight  of  the  9th,  the  battery  reached  Todd's  Tavern.  As  it 
had  no  orders  beyond  reaching  this  point  it  halted  for  instructions.  After  some 
delay  Major  Roebling  ordered  the  battery  into  position  on  the  right  of  the 
road  leading  to  Spotsylvania  Court  House,  and  to  open  fire  on  the  enemy's 
line.  The  position  was  found  to  be  such  that  while  the  enemy's  guns  could 
reach  it,  its  guns  could  have  no  effect  on  theirs.  This  fact  was  reported  and 
the  battery  withdrawn. 

Later  in  the  day,  the  9th,  the  battery  moved  farther  to  the  front  and  took 
position  on  the  right  of  Battery  H,  Captain  Mink,  of  the  First  New  York  Light 
Artillery,    There  it  was  exposed  to  a  severe  fire  from  sharpshooters.    Neverthe- 


I2I0  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

less,  under  the  orders  of  General  Griffin  the  battery  opened  with  solid  shot  and 
started  the  enemy  from  their  position.  A  bayonet  charge  then  drove  them 
from  their  rifle  pits.  While  firing,  the  trail  of  one  of  the  guns  was  broken  and 
the  gun  was  taken  to  the  rear  for  repairs.  Repairs  being  made,  it  was  soon 
returned. 

The  battle  of  Laurel  Hill  was  fought  on  the  loth,  nth  and  12th  of  May. 
Under  the  immediate  orders  of  Colonel  Wainwright,  the  battery  reached  the 
front  at  daylight.  There  it  was  met  again  by  a  galling  fire  from  the  sharp- 
shooters. These  kept  the  men  quiet  until  10  o'clock,  when  GrifiSn  ordered 
the  battery  to  open  fire.  This  it  did  and  continued  it  through  the  day,  "  with 
a  right  good  will."  This  battery,  with  the  others  in  line,  was  able  to  keep 
the  enemy's  guns  quiet  or  nearly  so.  When  one  of  the  enemy's  batteries 
opened  it  was  promptly  silenced  by  our  guns.  We  dismounted  one  of  their 
guns  by  a  solid  shot,  and  this  finally  quieted  them.  The  sharpshooters  were 
very  annoying  and  did  much  damage.  From  them  the  battery  suffered  its 
full  share.    That  day  it  fired  354  rounds  of  ammimition. 

The  next  morning,  the  nth,  the  enemy  assumed  the  offensive  with  their 
artillery,  but  were  soon  eflfectively  silenced.  Griffin  then  directed  that  the 
artillery  should  shell  the  woods  in  front  This  fire  by  the  battery  was  continued 
all  day.  I 

On  the  I2th,  the  battery  opened  fire  at  7  in  the  morning,  the  immediate 
object  being  to  cause  a  diversion  in  favor  of  the  Second  and  Sixth  Corps. 
These  two  corps  were  preparing  to  charge  the  enemy's  line.  Consequently 
the  firing  of  the  artillery  was  steady  and  rapid.  The  charge  was  made  and 
failed.  General  Griffin  then  notified  the  batteries  that  they  must  protect  their 
front  and  hold  their  position.  If  the  enemy  intended  to  counter-charge,  the 
incessant  fire  prevented  their  massing  in  our  front.  No  charge  was  made. 
During  the  day  the  battery  fired  237  rounds  of  ammunition. 

During  the  battle  of  Spotsylvania  Court  House  the  battery  changed  position 
several  times  to  either  aid  in  the  advance  of  our  infantry  or  to  resist  the  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy.  It  was  active  during  the  entire  engagement,  though  its 
losses  were  not  heavy.  In  a  military  sense  it  suffered  more  at  Spotsylvania 
from  overwork  and  exhaustion  of  the  men  and  horses,  who  were,  during  the 
battle,  worn  down  to  the  last  degree,  than  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  One 
man  (Leonard)  only  was  seriously  wounded.     Several  horses  were  killed. 

On  the  i8th.  Lieutenant  Richardson,  then  in  command  of  the  battery,  who 
had  become  exhausted  by  overwork,  applied  to  Colonel  Wainwright  for  the 
return  to  the  battery  of  First  Lieutenant  Matthewson,  then  on  staff  duty  with 
the  colonel.  Upon  this  application  he  was  ordered  to  report  to  the  battery 
and  as  senior  officer  took  command. 

The  battle  of  the  North  Anna  was  fought  May  23d,  and  —  I  will  give  Captain 
Richardson's  brief  account  of  it: — 

"  We  came  up  on  this  side  of  the  river  and  went  into  park.  We  could 
see  our  infantry  advancing  upon  the  other  side  and  going  into  the  woods  out 
of  sight.  Soon  the  three  batteries,  H,  First  U.  S.,  and  D  and  H,  First  New 
York,  were  ordered  to  cross  the  river,  which  we  did  upon  a  pontoon  bridge, 
and  reached  the  top  of  the  hill  on  the  opposite  side  of  tiie  river  without  diffi- 
culty and  again  went  into  park. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  121  i 

"We  haa  no  sooner  dismounted  the  drivers  than  the  enemy  opened  fire 
on  us  and  at  the  same  time  broke  our  line  of  infantry,  and  drove  them  back 
on  us.  The  batteries  opened  out  Hke  a  fan,  Battery  D  being  upon  the  right. 
The  infantry  were  coming  back  much  disorganized  and,  in  all  shapes  upon 
the  double-quick.  We  urged  them  to  stay  by  the  battery,  assuring  them  if 
they  would  do  so  we  would  stop  the  enemy.  We  succeeded  in  getting  a  few 
of  them  around  us  and  as  soon  as  we  could  get  into  position  commenced  firing. 
"Almost  at  the  first  shot  Lieutenant  Matthewson  was  wounded  in  the  leg 
and  sent  to  the  rear.  He  did  not  again  serve  with  the  battery  during  the  war. 
The  command  again  devolved  upon  me.  This  proved  to  be  a  most  desperate 
battle,  though  short.  The  enemy  were  finally  repulsed  and  withdrew  from 
the  field.  At  the  time  the  battle  was  at  its  height  the  enemy  were  crowding 
the  infantry  and  artillery  so  hard  that  it  looked  as  if  all  would  be  captured  or 
driven  in  the  river.  The  officers  of  Battery  L,  First  U.  S.  Artillery,  were 
preparing  to  run  their  guns  into  the  river,  and  the  officers  of  Battery  H,  First 
New  York,  were  ready  to  spike  theirs.  I  called  Lieutenant  De  Mott  to  me 
and  asked  if  he  would  remain  with  me  if  the  battery  was  captured,  and  be 
taken  with  the  guns.  De  Mott  replied,  '  Yes,  sir.'  The  battery  was  ready 
then  to  fight  to  the  last  minute  and  go  with  their  guns,  if  necessary.  But  the 
artillery  decided  the  fight  in  our  favor  and  turned,  what  appeared  to  be  a 
defeat,  into  a  victory." 

General  Warren  complimented  the  batteries  very  highly  in  his  report  of  the 
engagement,  saying,  "  The  artillery  saved  the  army." 

At  this  battle  Captain  Davis,  who  was  the  orderly  sergeant  of  Battery  D, 
and  the  first  enlisted  man  to  receive  promotion,  was  killed.  Much  of  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  battery  was  owing  to  Orderly  Davis  while  serving  in  that  ca- 
pacity. Physically  he  was  one  of  the  most  perfect  young  men  I  ever  saw. 
He  made  a  superior  commissioned  officer  and  was  recognized  by  all  who  knew 
him,  not  only  as  a  superb  officer,  but  also  as  a  refined  and  cultivated  gentleman. 

The  battery  moved  on  the  29th,  and  on  the  road  came  across  the  Four- 
teenth New  York  Heavy  Artillery.  A  memorandum  made  at  this  time  says: 
"  They  were  tired  of  it.  No  rations,  no  sleep,  no  nothing,  and  all  wanted  to 
go  home."  This  regiment  belonged  to  Northern  New  York.  Many  of  the 
men  of  the  battery  and  the  regiment  were  acquainted.  Captain  Kiefler,  who 
was  originally  elected  captain  of  Battery  D,  was  a  captain  in  the  Fourteenth 
New  York  Heavy  Artillery.     He  was  soon  after  this  killed  in  battle. 

This  regiment  was  originally  organized  into  three  independent  battalions 
and  each  battalion  was  to  be  commanded  by  a  major.  I  was  commissioned 
to  command  one  of  these,  then  stationed  in  New  York  Harbor.  This  com- 
mission I  declined,  preferring  to  serve  in  the  field  with  the  battery.  Subse- 
quently the  three  battalions  were  consolidated  into  the  Fourteenth  New  York 
Heavy  Artillery,  and  I  was  again  commissioned  major  of  that  regiment.  That 
commission  never  reached  me.  It  was  stopped  somewhere,  probably  at  the 
headquarters  of  the  army,  and  the  Governor  of  New  York  was  asked  to  com- 
mission me  to  the  same  grade  in  my  own  regiment.  This  was  done.  I  learned 
these  facts  after  I  had  been  commissioned  major  in  the  First  New  York  Light 
Artillery. 


1212  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  battle  of  Totopotomoy  Creek  was  fought  on  the  31st  of  May.  In 
Captain  Richardson's  personal  account  of  it  he  says : 

"  We  were  ordered  to  move  to  the  front  in  the  rear  of  Ayres'  Brigade.  We 
moved  slowly  until  within  one  mile  of  our  skirmish  line,  where  we  halted.  I 
reported  to  Major  Fitzhugh,  who  gave  me  instructions  to  remain  where  I  was. 
This  was  at  i  p.  m.  At  2  o'clock,  a  very  brisk  musketry  fire  opened  on  our 
left  and  soon  orders  were  received  to  move  to  the  rear  and  left.  I  started 
the  right  section  out  at  a  trot  leaving  the  left  to  follow  at  a  walk.  I  soon  got 
the  right  section  into  position,  and  had  fired  ten  rounds  of  solid  shot  when 
General  Griffin  ordered  me  further  to  the  front.  I  limbered  up  and  at  a  trot 
moved  forward  200  yards.  There  I  found  the  enemy  in  plain  sight,  with  their 
battle  flags  floating  in  our  faces.  I  immediately  brought  my  guns  to  bear  upon 
them.  They  then  moved  to  the  rear  and  right;  still  I  was  told  to  hold  my  fire 
on  their  column. 

"  All  this  time  my  left  section  had  not  put  in  an  appearance.  I  learned  that 
some  stafi  officer  had  ordered  the  guns  with  all  the  caissons  to  the  rear.  I  at 
once  sent  for  them.  In  the  meantime  I  had  expended  all  my  ammunition  and 
I  was  hard  pressed  by  the  enemy.  Under  this  pressure  I  sent  an  orderly  to 
Captain  Mink,  Battery  H,  a  half  mile  in  the  rear,  for  ammunition.  This  he 
kindly  gave  me.  Still  I  was  very  cautious  and  sparing  of  ammunition  until 
the  left  section  and  the  caisson  reached  me.  This,  however,  was  in  a  short 
time.     I  then  gave  the  enemy  all  I  could  to  advantage. 

"  The  enemy's  artillery  now  opened  on  my  right  section  and  that,  in  addition 
to  their  infantry  fire,  made  it  decidedly  uncomfortable  for  us.  So  much  so,  in 
fact,  that  I  gave  orders  to  cease  firing  and  for  the  men  to  lie  down.  All  this 
time  the  enemy  had  perfect  range  on  us  and  were  bursting  shells  directly  in 
front  of  us  in  our  faces.  The  pieces  of  shell  were  humming  all  around  us. 
I  had  four  horses  killed  in  as  many  minutes,  leaving  in  that  section  only  four 
horses  to  a  gun. 

"  I  now  received  notice  that  the  enemy  were  massing  their  forces  in  our  front 
and  on  our  right  preparatory  to  making  a  charge.  My  battery  at  the  time 
was  as  quiet  as  if  every  man  in  it  had  been  killed  or  wounded.  Soon  the 
Rebel  yell  broke  loose.  Their  line  of  battle  moved  forward  in  perfect  order, 
every  man  as  brave  as  the  bravest.  The  movement  to  a  soldier's  eye  was 
splendid.  Not  a  break  in  their  line  at  any  point.  They  moved  en  echelon,  as 
splendid  a  line  as  I  had  ever  seen;  not  a  man  wavered.  I  held  the  fire  of  the 
battery  until  they  were  within  canister  range  and  then  opened  upon  them  with 
case  shot  and  canister.  It  was  veteran  against  veteran  and  we  looked  each 
other  in  the  eyes  before  we  struck. 

"  Before  this  charge  was  made  upon  us,  I  had  reported  to  General  Crawford 
my  situation  and  asked  for  men  to  carry  ammunition  for  me.  He  refused  me 
the  men,  but  said:  '  You  must  hold  this  point  at  all  hazards.'  I  resolved  to 
do  so,  but  at  the  same  time  my  respect  for  a  general  officer  made  out  of  a 
physician  was  not  augmented  by  the  incident. 

"  We  fired  rapidly  and  steadily  on  the  advancing  line,  but  seemingly  without 
much  effect  in  so  far  as  stopping  them  went.  We  mowed  them  down,  but 
they  closed  ranks  and  moved  steadily  forward.    At  this  moment  I  received 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1213 

orders  from  Crawford,  the  same  man  who  had  refused  me  a  little  aid  and  had 
ordered  me  to  hold  the  point  at  all  hazards,  to  get  my  battery  out  of  the  way 
or  it  would  be  taken.  I  sent  word  he  was  too  late,  that  I  could  not  now  get 
out  and  would  stay  where  I  was.  I  kept  up  my  fire  on  the  enemy  and  they 
kepft  advancing.  The  thought  came  over  me  that  I  would  save  one  of  my 
guns  if  possible.  I  limbered  it  to  the  rear  and  had  started  it  while  I  kept  the 
others  at  work.  All  at  once  a  long  and  loud  cheer  broke  from  our  line.  -  The, 
enemy  was  in  full  retreat.  The  gun  I  had  started  to  the  rear  was  instantly 
run  to  the  front  and  at  work  again.  We  drove  the  enemy  entirely  from  the 
field.  As  the  sun  set  that  night  all  were  tired  and  we  laid  down  to  rest  after 
our  hard  day's  work. 

"  This  battle  of  Totopotomoy  Creek  was  the  hardest  fought  of  any  which  the 
battery  had  then  been  in.  It  was  the  one  place  above  all  others  that  I  dis- 
tinctly saw  the  effects  of  artillery  playing  upon  a  line  of  battle.  It  was  a 
place,  too,  where  the  men  of  Battery  D  could  show  of  what  stuff  they  were 
made.  No  other  gun  of  our  army  fired  a  shot  during  this  engagement,  as 
no  other  battery  was  where  it  could  be  made  available.  Before  us,  the  Con- 
federate General  Ramsey  was  killed  by  a  canister  shot 

"  General  Griffin  complimented  the  battery  highly  for  the  work  it  had 
done  and  said  it  saved  the  road  from  being  occupied  by  the  enemy.  The 
members  of  the  battery  may  well  be  proud  of  the  work  it  did  at  Totopotomoy 
Creek." 

June  2d,  the  battery  was  assigned  to  duty  with  General  Griffin's  division 
together  with  one  other  volunteer  and  one  regular  battery.  Griffin  was  an 
old  artillery  officer.  In  making  selection  of  his  batteries  he  gave  Battery  D 
the  preference  over  all  others.  He  frankly  stated  this.  It  was  certainly  a 
high  compliment 

Another  severe  battle  was  fought  June  3d,  near  Bethesda  Church.  It  was 
in  part  a  continuation  of  the  fighting  of  June  ist  and  2d.  I  will  again  quote 
from  Captain  Richardson's  reminiscences: 

"  The  battery  had  been  put  into  position  late  in  the  evening  of  the  2d.  In 
the  forenoon  of  the  3d,  the  enemy's  artillery  opened  on  Griffin's  batteries. 
They  replied  and  soon  drove  the  enemy's  guns  to  cover.  A  little  later  the 
enemy's  artillery  shifted  position,  opened  fire,  and  was  again  silenced. 

"  This  artillery  duel  cost  the  battery  very  dear.  Lieutenant  De  Mott  was 
struck  by  a  shell  and  instantly  killed.  At  the  same  time  i  man  was  killed 
and  3  wounded. 

"  Lieutenant  De  Mott  was  an  able,  brave,  and  efficient  officer.  He  was 
always  ready  and  willing  to  perform  any  duty  and  he  always  performed  his 
duty  well.  His  death  left  me  alone  with  the  battery.  Four  officers  have  now 
been  either  killed,  wounded,  or  made  prisoners  since  we  started  on  this  cam- 
paign only  four  weeks  ago.  How  soon  I  was  to  follow  them  was  a  serious 
thought.  I  did  not  have  very  long  to  wait.  At  the  time  of  Lieutenant  De 
Mott's  death  the  battery  was  being  shelled  by  both  a  front  and  enfilading  fire. 
It  was  red  hot.     How  anyone  of  us  escaped  is  beyond  comprehension. 

"  Soon,  however,  our  line  advanced  and  the  battery  held  its  fire  until  our 
infantry  was  out  of  harm's  way.    We  then  again  opened  fire  upon  the  enemy's 


I2I4  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

artillery,  which  was  making  sad  havoc  with  our  advancing  line  of  battle.  We 
soon  silenced  their  guns  and  our  line  made  the  desired  advance  without  further 
trouble.  During  this  time  the  other  two  batteries  of  the  division  were  in 
line  with  us.  As  soon  as  our  line  of  battle,  the  infantry,  reached  the  position 
for  which  they  had  made  the  charge,  the  batteries  were  ordered  to  advance  to 
an  open  field. 

"Just  before  this  order  was  given,  Griffin  rode  up  to  me  and  said:  'Can 
you  take  your  battery  out  in±o  that  open  field? '  I  replied,  '  Yes,  sir,  I  can 
take  this  battery  anywhere.'  He  then  ordered  me  to  advance.  I  did  this 
under  a  terrific  canister  fire  from  the  enemy's  batteries.  Fortunately  we 
reached  the  position  assigned  us  with  the  loss  of  but  one  man.  We  returned 
the  enemy's  artillery  fire  and  soon  silenced  their  guns.  The  enemy's  sharp- 
shooters annoyed  us  much  all  day.  But  we  had  won  the  fight."  In  this 
engagement  2  men  were  wounded  and  2  were  killed. 

June  5th,  the  battery  moved  into  our  advanced  works,  but  was  not  engaged. 
In  the  evening  it  again  drew  out,  and  the  morning  of  the  6th,  started  on  the 
movement  to  cross  the  Chickahominy  and  James  Rivers  and  forward  to  Peters- 
burg. This  movement  was  made  by  short  marches,  but  always  the  battery 
was  in  position  to  turn  to  the  front  and  in  a  few  minutes,  or  at  most  a  few 
hours,  to  meet  the  enemy.  On  the  13th  it  crossed  the  Chickahominy  River. 
On  the  15th,  passed  the  Charles  City  Cross  Roads,  where  two  years  before  it 
fought  at  the  battle  of  Glendale.  On  the  i6th,  it  crossed  the  James  River  on 
a  pontoon  bridge,  and  in  the  evening  camped  near  Petersburg.  On  the  i8th, 
it  moved  into  our  second  line  of  works  in  front  of  Petersburg.  A  memorandum 
made  by  a  member  of  the  battery  at  the  time  has  these  sentences: 

"  Surely  a  deadly  struggle  has  taken  place  here,  for  before  me  lie  many 
brave  men  yet  unburied.  In  the  space  of  two  square  rods  I  have  counted  25 
dead  men,  who  are  lying  as  they  fell  yesterday." 

Captain  Richardson  says  of  the  battle  of  the  Norfolk  Railroad,  which  was 
fought  on  the  i8th  of  June: 

"  After  having  remained  in  the  second  line  of  works  about  an  hour,  I  was 
ordered  into  position.  I  went  in  under  fire.  The  enemy  did  the  battery  no 
harm,  yet  the  fire  was  a  little  demoralizing,  but  we  soon  got  our  guns  to  work. 
It  remained  in  this  position,  at  work,  a  half  hour  when  I  was  ordered  to  ad- 
vance the  guns.  I  moved  up  one  at  a  time,  going  forward  200  yards  and  to 
the  right  100  yards.  I  commenced  firing  as  soon  as  possible,  as  the  enemy 
was  firing  rapidly  at  us,  but,  in  fact,  doing  us  no  damage.  We  finally  secured 
tlie  position!  desired  literally  by  advancing  the  guns  by  inches.  We  would 
fire  the  guns  and  then  after  each  discharge  run  them  forward  a  little  more  than 
they  recoiled.  This  we  continued  until  we  secured  the  position  assigned  us. 
When,  however,  the  desired  position  had  been  secured  we  did  good  execution 
and  completely  silenced  the  enemy's  guns.  We  were  engaged  more  or  less  all 
day  and  slept  by  the  guns  at  night.  Three  men  were  wounded, —  one  fatally." 
The  campaign  up  to  this  time  appears  to  have  been  a  little  too  severe  on 
Captain  Richardson.  On  the  20th,  he  went  in  hospital,  where  he  remained 
till  the  30th. 

The  battle  of  Jerusalem  Plank  Road  was  fought  on  the  21st,  during  the 
absence  of  Captain  Richardson  in  hospital.     Lieutenant  Ritchie  was  in  com- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1215 

mand  of  the  battery   during  the  ten   days   Richardson  was   unable  to  com- 
mand it. 

At  this  time  Captain  Winslow  returned  to  the  battery  and  remained  with 
it  two  weeks.  His  health,  however,  was  too  much  broken  for  him  to  com- 
mand, or  to  perform  further  service  in  the  field.  Lieutenant  Richardson  re- 
tained command  of  the  battery  during  this  period  that  Captain  Winslow  was 
with  it. 

From  August  .17th  to  September  29th,  the  battery  was  in  camp  and  com- 
paratively quiet.  That  day  it  moved  with  the  infantry,  it  being  the  only 
battery  with  them,  to  Poplar  Grove  Church,  where  a  short  and  sharp  collision 
occurred  and  a  battery  was  captured  from  the  enemy.  The  next  day  the 
battle  of  Peebles'  Farm  occurred.  As  this  was  Captain  Richardson's  last  fight, 
I  will  give  his  own  brief  account  of  it  so  far  as  he  knew  of  it. 

"  While  at  breakfast,  September  30th,  Major  Fitzhugh  asked  me  to  go 
with  him  to  the  front.  We  were  soon  there.  He  then  ordered  me  to  bring 
the  battery  to  a  position  he  designated.  I  saw  the  position  was  an  imprac- 
ticable one,  and  so  said  to  him.  It  was  such  that  the  enemy's  fire  could  kill 
all  of  us  and  we  could  not  hurt  or  even  annoy  them  in  the  least.  Finally  he 
gave  way  to  me  for  a  few  minutes  and  until  an  aide  of  Warren's  came  with 
orders  from  him  to  get  the  batteries  at  work  immediately.  Fitzhugh  then 
ordered  me  to  bring  the  battery,  up.  I  soon  had  it  on  the  ground  where  I 
had  left  him.  He  had  gone  forward  to  the  skirmish  line  and  had  left  orders 
for  me  to  follow  him  with  the  battery.  I  complied  with  his  order  but  had  not 
been  in.  position  to  exceed  three  minutes  when  I  received  the  wound  which 
caused  me  to  be  taken  from  the  field." 

From  this  wound  the  captain  never  recovered  and  from  the  hour  of  his 
wound  his  active  connection  with  the  battery  ceased.  Lieutenant  Johnson 
assumed  command  of  the  battery.  Mr.  Conger,  then  a  cannoneer,  furnishes 
the  following  items  concerning  the  battle : 

"  In  this  battle  of  Peebles'  Farm,  Griifin  had  carried  the  enemy's  works  and 
was  holding  them  with  great  difficulty  when  the  battery  was  'moved  to  the 
front.  To  reach  the  position  assigned,  it  crossed  an  open  field  600  yards  under 
a  heavy  musketry  fire.  This  it  did  at  double-quick,  the  cannoneers  clinging 
to  the  traces  and  to  whatever  they  could  hold,  and  went  into  position  where 
ordered.  The  enemy  knowing  the  battery  would  probably  drive  them  from 
their  position  did  their  utmost  to  prevent  it  from  opening  fire.  Three  of 
the  men  were  hit  before  a  gun  was  fired,  and  immediately  after  it  opened 
Captain  Richardson  was  struck.  Much  of  the  damage  done  to  the  battery 
was  by  sharpshooters  firing  from  the  trees.  The  battery  did  excellent  service 
and  drove  the  enemy  from  their  position." 

The  next  day,  October  ist,  the  battle  of  Chappell  House  was  fought.  This 
grew  out  of  an  advance  or  demonstration  to  develop  the  enemy's  position  and 
locate  their  line.  It  appears  that  in  this  afifair  Battery  D  provoked  an  artillery 
duel  in  which  it  came  out  second  best,  and  withdrew  out  of  the  range  of  the 
enemy's  guns.  Captain  Hazelton  reported  and  took  command  of  the  battery 
during  this  engagement. 

Excepting  the  affair  at  Hatcher's  Run,  of  November  7th,  in  which  the  bat- 
tery took  part,  it  remained  in  camp  until  some  time  in  February.    At  that 


12 16  New  .York  at  Gettysburg. 

time  it  was  out  on  a  demonstration  against  the  enemy's  works,  at  HatcHer's 
Run,  for  six  days.  This  was  attended  with  great  exposure  and  suffering  to 
the  men  and  horses.  It  was  located  in  a  swamp,  the  weather  was  cold,  snow 
covered  the  ground,  and  rain  and  sleet  fell  freely.  To  make  the  exposure 
worse  and  the  suffering  more  severe,  the  men  had  orders  to  build  no  fires. 
After  this  reconnoissance  the  battery  returned  to  camp,  where  it  remained  till 
March  ii,  1865.  Lieutenant  Johnson  was  in  command.  Captain  Hazleton  be- 
ing absent  on  leave. 

That  day,  it  left  its  winter  camp  and  took  position  on  the  left  of  the  general 
line,  resting  on  Hatcher's  Run.  At  2  a.  m.,  March  29th,  it  started  on  the 
campaign  which  resulted  in  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army. 

The  battle  of  Butler  House*  was  fought  on  the  31st  of  March.  The  battery 
became  engaged  while  the  battle  was  in  progress,  not  at  the  opening.  Craw- 
ford's Division  had  been  attacked  near  the  White  Oak  Road  and  was  driven 
back,  much  broken  up.  Griffin's  Division,  to  which  the  battery  belonged,  came 
to  the  relief  of  Crawford  as  that  division  was  crossing  the  enemy's  advance. 
The  battery  pushed  its  way  through  Crawford's  men,  until  its  front  was  un- 
masked when  it  double-quicked  to  a  position  overlooking  Gravelly  Run  and 
the  approach  to  it.  It  secured  its  position  at  the  moment  the  enemy  were 
moving  rapidly  down  the  slope  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Run.  As  the 
battery  was  going  into  position,  a  spent  ball  hit  Lieutenant  Johnson  in  the 
breast  and  knocked  him  off  his  horse.  In  a  half  hour  he  was  again  on  his 
feet  and  in  command.  During  this  half  hour  Lieutenant  Babcock,  was  the 
only  commissioned  officer  on  duty.  Here  the  thorough  and  long  discipline 
of  the  battery  showed  its  results.  The  men  were  veterans  and  every  one  knew 
his  duty  and  was  willing  to  perform  it. 

The  fire  of  Battery  D,  and  of  H,  on  its  right,  checked  the  advance  of  the 
enemy.  No  better  work  could  be  done  than  was  performed  there  by  the  two 
batteries.  While  the  battle  was  in  progress  Captain  Hazleton  arrived  and 
took  command. 

Concerning  the  battle  of  the  31st,  Sergeant  Thayer  at  the  time  entered  this 
interesting  item  in  his  diary: 

"  Batteries  D  and  H  are  the  ones  which  must  go  on  the  extreme  front  at 
every  alarm,  just  as  they  have  always  done  in  this  campaign  under  General 
Grant.  If  there  is  any  difficult  spot  where  a  battery  is  needed  or  supposed  to 
be  needed,  or  a  battle  in  progress  in  which  this  corps  is  engaged,  then  forth- 
with General  Wainwright  sends  one  of  his  aides  to  order  us  to  advance  at 
once.     It  has  always  been  so  since  we  have  been  in  the  service. 

"  Last  Wednesday  we  were  used  most  shamefully.  An  infantry  general 
ordered  the  four  sergeants  to  double-quick  over  stumps  and  fallen  timber  to 
get  our  guns  into  positions.  I  was  in  a  temper  about  it  Once  or  twice  I 
ordered  my  drivers  to  go  slow,  and  not  break  down.  Sergeant  Donnelly 
broke  the  pole  of  his  gun  while  galloping  over  stumps  and  down  timber.  I 
told  my  men  to  take  it  cool,  and  act  as  they  would  if  they  were  going  to  church 
and  their  best  girls  were  looking  at  them.  They  took  it  cool  enough  and 
went  fast  enough.     If  the  brigadier  generals  would  mind  their  own  business 

*  Better  known  as  Gravelly  Run. —  Ed, 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1217 

and  let  us  alone  everything  would  move  on  much  better.  This  rush  was  alto- 
gether uncalled  for.  No  time  was  gained  by  it.  Nor  was  any  sense  shown 
in  giving  these  orders.  This  part  of  our  duty  we  know  much  better  than 
general  officers  commanding  infantry.  In  the  fight  the  men  stood' up  to  their 
work  and  did  their  duty  like  heroes,  as  they  are.  In  short  these  men  cannot 
be  bettered  in  this  army.  The  discipline  of  this  command  by  T.  W.  Osborn, 
its  original  captain,  will  last  till  the  close  of  the  war  or  until  the  last  man  of  us 
is  killed.     But  that  is  all  right." 

The  battery  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Five  Forks,  April  ist,  but  was  not 
so  actively  engaged  as  on  the  first  day.  It,  however,  shared  in  that  great 
victory. 

On  the  1st  of  April,  General  Sheridan  had  captured  a  large  number  of 
prisoners.  Between  3,000  and  4,000  of  them  were  brought  in  under  guard, 
and  held  over  night  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  battery.  They  were 
Pickett's  men,  of  Longstreet's  Corps.  The  battery  was  detailed  as  part  of  the 
guard  over  them.  One  of  the  sections  went  into  position  within  a  few  yards 
of  this  mass  of  men,  the  guns  being  already  loaded  with  canister.  Lieutenant 
Babcock  was  in  command  of  the  section,  and  Sergeant  Thayer  was  sergeant 
of  the  guard.  The  battery  was  ordered  to  open  fire  on  the  prisoners  if  they 
should  make  an  effort  to  escape.  This  they  did  not  do.  It  was  a  new,  and 
one  of  the  irregular  duties  the  battery  was  called  upon  to  perform  during  the 
war. 

The  morning  of  the  9th,  it  was  at  Appomattox.    There  it  was  ordered  to 
JO  into  position  in  the  line  of  battle.    The  drivers  had  already  mounted  when 
information  was  received  that  General  Lee  had  surrendered  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia  to  General  Grant. 
Battery  D  had  finished  its  fighting. 

May  23d,  it  took  part  in  the  Grand  Review  in  Washington  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  before  President  Johnson. 

May  30th,  the  order  for  the  discharge  of  the  command  was  received.  The 
31st,  the  guns  were  turned  in,  and  on  June  2d,  the  horses.  June  5th,  the 
company  left  Washington  for  Elmira,  where  it  arrived  the  7th.  June  i8th,  the 
officers  and  men  were  mustered  out  and  discharged., 

The  company  had  been  in  active  service  from  September  6,  1861,  to  June 
18,  1865.  The  battery  had  served  in  the  field  and  continually  in  the  presence 
of  the  enemy  from  March  3,  1862,  to  April  9,  1865.  It  had  fought  in  thirty- 
six  recognized  battles. 

This  beautiful  monument  erected  by  the  bounty  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
marks  the  sight  where  brave  men  performed  brave  deeds.  It  is  an  historical 
monument,  this  day  dedicated  to  commemorate,  not  only  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, but  more  especially  the  many  brave  deeds  done  by  Battery  D,  First 
New  York  Light  Artillery.  The  noble  and  great  State  of  New  York  has  our 
profound  gratitude  for  erecting  it. 


I2i8  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 

Erected  1891  bythe  State 

OF  New  York  to  commemorate 

THE  detached   MEN   OF   BaTTERY 

"  E  ",  First  N.  Y.  Lt.  Artillery  serv- 
ing WITH  "  L  "  (Reynolds).    These 

works  were  BUILT  AND  HELD  BY 

Battery  "  L  ",  Lieutenant  George 

BrECK,  COMMANDING,  AGAINST  AS- 
SAULTS  OF  INFANTRY  AND   ARTIL- 
LERY DURING  THE  SECOND  AND  THIRD 

DAYS  OF  July,  1863 

This  monument  is  committed  to 

the  care  of  a  dear  country 

we  were  proud  to 

SERVE 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1219 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

BATTERY  E, 

FIRST  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

July  2,  1888. 

Historical  Sketch. 

Battery  E,  First  Regiment  New  York  Light  Artillery,  was  raised  in  the 
counties  of  Steuben  and  Livingston.  Under  command  of  Capt.  John  Stocum, 
the  company  went  into  barracks  at  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  where  it  was  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service,  September  13,  1861.  Leaving  Elmira  in  November, 
it  proceeded  to  Washington,  where  it  encamped  during  the  winter  of  1861-62. 
In  March,  1862,  it  was  assigned  to  Smith's  Division,  of  the  Fourth  Corps, 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  in  the  same  month  embarked  on  transports  at 
Alexandria,  Va.,  en  route  for  the  Peninsular  campaign.  The  battery  was 
now  under  command  of  Capt.  Charles  C.  Wheeler,  Captain  Stocum  having 
been  discharged  January  27,  1862. 

Battery  E  was  prominently  engaged  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  in  April, 
1862,  and  was  in  action  in  the  reconnoissance  and  skirmish  near  Lee's  Mill, 
April  6th.  In  this  affair  the  enemy's  artillery  sent  a  percussion  shell,  from 
a  lo-pounder  Parrott,  which  passed  through  the  comer  of  an  ammunition  chest 
on  a  limber  belonging  to  one  of  Wheeler's  guns.  This  shell  exploded  twenty- 
nine  cannon  cartridges  and  two  case  shot  in  one  compartment  of  the  chest, 
and  set  fire  to  the  packing  tow  in  the  other  compartment.  Sergt.  David  L. 
Smith  and  Artf.  James  H.  Hickox  promptly  passed  water  upon  the  burning 
tow,  which  Priv.  William  H.  Kershner  pulled  out  with  his  hands,  and  thus  pre- 
vented the  explosion  of  the  remaining  ammunition.  Gen.  D.  E.  Keyes,  the 
commander  of  the  Fourth  Corps,  mentions  this  incident  in  his  official  report 
of  the  skirmish,  and  adds  Words  of  praise  for  the  excellent  conduct  of  the 
battery. 

Wheeler's  four  guns  were  in  action  again  on  May  5th,  at  the  battle  of 
Williamsburg,  taking  position  in  front  of  Fort  Magruder.  Here  fell  the  first 
man  killed  in  the  battery.  In  this  engagement  it  acted  in  conjunction  with 
Hancock's  Brigade,  and  under  General  Hancock's  immediate  command.  Upon 
the  organization  of  the  Sixth  Corps  in  May,  1862,  Smith's  Division  was  trans- 
ferred to  that  command,  the  battery  going  with  it. 

In  company  with  Davidson's  (Third)  Brigade,  of  Smith's  Division,  Battery 
E  was  engaged  on  May  24th,  at  the  battle  of  Mechanicsville,  but  without  sus- 
taining any  casualties,  aside  from  some  horses  which  were  killed.  Colonel 
McKean  of  the  Seventy-seventh  New  York  Infantry,  in  his  official  report  of 
this  engagement,  says  that  "Wheeler's  Battery  most  effectually  riddled  the 
village,  driving  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  out  of  the  buildings,  and  causing 
his  artillery  to  reply  at  longer  and  still  longer  intervals  until  it  was  silent." 

Battery  E  suffered  considerably  from  sickness  while  on  the  Peninsula,  so 
much  so  that  at  the  battle  of  White  Oak  Swamp,  Captain  Wheeler  reported 


J220  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


that  he  could  man  only  two  of  his  guns  effectively.  After  participating  in  the 
Seven  Days'  battle  the  battery  went  into  camp  at  Harrison's  Landing,  on  the 
Tames  River,  where  the  entire  army  was  resting  after  the  campaign     _ 

The  battery  becoming  reduced  in  numbers  below  the  point  of  efficiency,  it 
was  attached  to  Cowan's  First  Independent  Battery  in  August,  1862,  with 
which  it  served  during  the  Maryland  campaign,  at  Antietam  and  Fredericks- 
burg. Captain  Wheeler  received  an  honorable  discharge,  January  22,  iS63- 
On  Tune  20,  1863,  Battery  E  was  transferred  to  Reynolds'  Battery  — L,  First 
N  Y  L.  A.— with  which  it  fought  at  Gettysburg,  the  Wilderness,  and  Spotsyl- 


vania. 


Capt  Henry  W.  Davis,  formerly  an  officer  in  Winslows  Battery  — D  — 
was  assigned  to  Battery  E  in  May,  1864,  but  he  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  the 
North  Anna  River,  May  23,  1864,  while  endeavoring  to  rally  a  hne  of  infantry 
behind  Mink's  Battery. 

While  before  Petersburg,  in  June,  1864,  Battery  E  was  reorganized  under 
the  command  of  First  Lieut.  James  B.  Hazelton,  and  assigned  to  duty  in  the 
trenches,  where  it  was  placed  in  charge  of  some  Coehorn  mortars.  It  was 
now  in  the  Fifth  Corps,  and  formed  part  of  Major  Fitzhugh's  Brigade  of 
the  Reserve  Artillery.  Lieut.  Angell  Matthewson,  of  Winslow's  Battery  —  D 
—  was  commissioned  captain  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  Battery  E. 

Under  command  of  Lieut.  George  H.  Barse,  the  battery  participated  in  the 
final  campaign,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  assault  which  resulted  in  the 
fall  of  Petersburg,  after  which  it  accompanied  the  Fifth  Corps  to  Appomattox. 

It  returned  to  Elmira,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Matthewson,  where 
it  was  mustered  out  June  6,  1865. 


CAMPAIGNING  WITH  THE  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 
By  Capt.  Edward  H.  Underbill. 

Battery  E,  First  New  York  Light  Artillery,  was  raised  at  Bath,  Steuben 
County,  New  York,  under  the  inspiration  of  Hon.  Robert  B.  Van  Valkenburgh, 
then  Representative  in  Congress  from  that  district,  and  a  former  ofificer  of  the 
State  Militia,  having  been  a  lieutenant  of  the  "  Bath  Artillery."  At  the  time  of 
the  organization  of  Battery  E,  General  Van  Valkenburgh  was  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  State  rendezvous  at  Elmira;  and,  later,  in  connection  with  Con- 
gressman Alexander  H.  Diven,  of  Elmira,  he  raised  the  One  hundred  and 
seventh  Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteer  Infantry.  The  general  was  in  after 
years  United  States  Minister  to  Japan,  and  his  career  of  public  service  ended 
only  at  his  death,  which  occurred  while  serving  as  Chief  Justice  of  the  State  of 
Florida. 

General  Van  Valkenburgh  sought  a  recruiting  officer  among  the  members  of 
the  late  "  Bath  Artillery."  First  Sergt.  John  Stocum  of  that  company  was  his 
choice.  On  September  6,  1861,  Sergeant  Stocum,  formerly  of  Company  A, 
Sixtieth  New  York  State  Militia  ("  Bath  Artillery  "),  began  raising  a  battery  for 
a  regiment  then  forming  at  Elmira,  of  which  Capt.  Guilford  D.  Bailey,  Second 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1221 

United  Slates  Artillery,  had  been  commissioned  colonel.  Captain  Stocum  pos- 
sessed the  qualities  most  desirable  in  a  recruiting  officer,  and  to  his  efforts  was 
due  the  speedy  acceptance  of  the  organization.  On  September  nth  Battery  E 
left  Bath  for  Elmira  with  sixty-six  men.  On  the  20th  fifteen  more  men  came  to 
the  rendezvous,  under  the  charge  of  Charles  C.  Wheeler,  who  relinquished  his 
duties  as  Principal  of  Haverling  Academy  at  Bath  to  take  part  in  more  stirring 
scenes. 

Capt.  William  Rumsey,  assistant  adjutant  general  of  the  State  rendezvous  at 
Elmira,  accepted  the  position  of  adjutant  of  the  regiment.  The  regiment  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service,  October  7,  1861,  by  Major  Lee,  U.  S. 
A.  At  that  time  the  officers  of  Battery  E  were  Capt.  John  Stocum,  First  Lieut. 
Charles  C.  Wheeler,  and  Second  Lieut.  Robert  H.  Gansevoort.  In  completing 
the  regimental  organization,  two  other  persons  who  had  been  active  in  recruiting 
for  Captain  Stocum's  company  were  added  to  the  regiment,  to  wit,  Maj.  David 
H.  Van  Valkenburgh  and  Reg.  Com.  Sergt.  Edward  H.  Underbill.  By  the 
time  the  regiment  was  ready  to  proceed  to  Washington  the  battery  had  been 
recruited  to  one  hundred  and  three  men.  On  the  29th  of  October  it  proceeded 
from  Elmira,  via  the  Northern  Central  and  Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroads,  to 
Washington,  going  into  camp  on  the  Bladensburg  Road,  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  east  of  the  Halls  of  Congress,  on  the  plain  designated  by  the  chief  of 
artillery  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  as  a  camp  of  instruction,  and  made 
memorable  by  its  name, — "  Camp  Barry,"  in  horror  of  the  chief  of  artillery  on  the 
stafif  of  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan. 

General  Barry  was  an  excellent  organizer,  a  strict  disciplinarian,  and  a  most 
admirable  chief  of  artillery.  He  directed  the  commissioned  officers  to  attend 
schools  of  instruction  in  tactics  and  gunnery.  This  schooling  was  fortunate  for 
some,  but  discouraging  to  others.  Colonel  Bailey,  but  lately  from  West  Point, 
made  a  very  rigid  schoolmaster.  In  common  with  many  others,  Captain  Sto- 
cum and  Lieutenant  Gansevoort  did  not  qualify  at  this  examination.  Early  in 
January,  1862,  the  War  Department  directed  that  all  adjutants  and  quarter- 
masters of  artillery  regiments  should  be  lieutenants  of  companies.  Accordingly, 
Adjutant  Rumsey  became  first  lieutenant  of  Battery  E;  First  Lieutenant 
Wheeler  became  captain,  vice  Stocum,  and  Commissary  Sergeant  Underbill 
was  mustered  in  as  second  lieutenant,  to  date  from  January  4th,  the  date  of 
Lieutenant  Gansevoort's  resignation.* 

This  battery  was  one  of  the  few  new  organizations  whose  men  early  appre- 
ciated the  value  of  a  competent  company  cook.  A  citizen  of  some  local  repute 
as  a  restaurateur  was  hired  by  the  company,  and  paid  from  a  fund  raised  by  a 
voluntary  assessment  of  twenty-five  cents  per  man,  per  month,  the  officers 
contributing  sufficient  to  make  up  the  deficit.  Such  unheard  of  things  in  camp 
life  as  roast  beef,  baked  ham,  fried  doughnuts,  good,  wholesome  ginger-bread 
and  the  like,  made  camp  life  much  more  agreeable  to  the  men  from  Steuben  than 
to  any  of  their  associate  companies. 
The  battery  had  also,  less  than  the  usual  fatalities  from  camp  disorders.     The 


♦Gansevoort  enlisted  subsequently  in   the    107th    N.    Y.    Infantry,    in    which  he  rose 
from  the  ranks  by  successive  promotions  to  a  captaincy,  and  was  known  as  a  gallant 
and  efficient  officer.     [Ed. 


1222  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

discipline  under  Captain  Wheeler  was  most  rigid,  even  verging  on  the  unduly 
severe ;  but  through  enforced  cleanliness,  well  cooked  rations  and  regular  hours, 
only  four  men  out  of  the  original  one  hundred  and  three  were  lost  to  the  service. 
But  by  slow  degrees  the  number  present  for  duty  lessened,  so  that  when,  on 
February  25,  1862,  Battery  E  was  ordered  to  join  Gen.  William  F.  Smith's 
division,  there  were  for  duty  but  two  officers  and  ninety-five  men.  The  hope  of 
making  it  a  six-gun  battery  was  never  fulfilled.  On  the  ist  of  March,  1862,  Bat- 
tery E  was  incorporated  in  the  artillery  brigade.  Smith's  Division,  near  Lewins- 
ville,  Virginia,  a  few  miles  south  of  Chain  Bridge.  Capt.  Romaine  B.  Ayres,  Fifth 
United  States  Artillery,  afterwards  made  a  general,  was  the  chief.  The  brigade 
was  made  up  of  Battery  F,  Fifth  United  States,  Cowan's  First  New  York  Inde- 
pendent Battery,  Third  New  York  Independent  Battery,  and  Battery  E.  The 
men  from  Steuben  soon  found  that  if  Colonel  Bailey  was  strict  and  Captain 
Wheeler  rigid.  Captain  Ayres  was  more  than  strict,  and  less  yielding  than  any 
officer  they  ever  served  under. 

March  10,  1862,  the  entire  command  moved  on  Manassas.  The  extreme 
point  reached  by  the  battery  on  this  march  was  Flint  Hill,  a  few  miles  beyond 
Vienna.  There  an  order  was  received,  turning  us  toward  Alexandria,  and  the 
rumor  soon  spread  that  there  was  nothing  left  at  Manassas  but  Quaker  guns 
and  empty  entrenchments.  March  14,  1862,  found  Battery  E  encamped  near 
Convalescent  Camp,  at  Alexandria.  At  this  point  First  Lieut.  Robert  J.  Parker, 
of  Ogdensburg,  joined,  and  before  leaving  the  same  camp  First  Lieut.  Samuel 
R.  Jarries,  of  Washington,  reported  for  duty.  Three  days  after.  Battery  E 
sailed  from  Alexandria  for  Fort  Monroe  on  the  steamer  "  Agnes,"  with  its 
horses  on  board  of  two  schooners  which  were  in  tow.  These  schooners  gave  us 
no  end  of  trouble,  especially  at  Hampton,  Virginia,  where  they  were  moved 
hither  and  thither  to  make  room  for  disembarking  troops,  until  they  were 
apparently  "  lost  in  the  shuffie."  Embarrassing  as  this  was  to  the  commanding 
officer,  it  afforded  one  of  his  subordinates  a  chance  to  steam  out  into  Hampton 
Roads,  to  and  around  the  little  Monitor.  Later,  the  same  junior  officer  had  a 
view,  somewhat  obscured  by  the  smoke,  of  the  fight,  when  the  Merrimac  sunk 
the  Congress  and  Cumberland. 

So  far  as  Battery  E  was  concerned,  the  march  up  the  Peninsula  began  March 
27th,  only  a  part  of  its  horses  having  arrived.  This  march  proved  too  much  for 
the  few  animals,  and  the  second  section  stuck  in  a  slough,  while  the  first  section 
moved  forward,  April  5th,  to  a  position  in  front  of  the  outlying  defences  of 
Yorktown,  near  Winn's  Mills.  At  i  p.  m.  of  that  day  it  first  came  under  the 
fire  of  the  enemy.  On  the  morning  of  Sunday,  April  6th,  the  entire  four  guns 
were  in  position,  and  the  early  part  of  the  Sabbath  was  spent  erecting  embank- 
ments to  shelter  the  gunners  from  sharpshooters,  who  made  things  a  trifle 
unpleasant.  The  infantry  detail  engaged  in  this  work  shrank  from  the  fire. 
One  member  of  the  battery  took  up  an  exalted  position  on  a  large  stump  and 
held  his  white-lined  rubber  overcoat  out  for  a  target,  his  own  body,  in  dark 
blue,  being  distinctly  visible  to  a  few  men  with  telescopic-sighted  rifles  who  were 
in  the  Rebel  entrenchment,  about  eleven  hundred  yards  distant.  This  hazard- 
ous piece  of  bravado  reassured  the  entrenching  party;  but  the  novice,  who 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1223 

scarcely  knew  what  risk  he  was  running,  was  called  down  by  a  prominent 
general,  with  a  severe  admonition. 

On  this  notable  Sunday,  while  the  infantry  were  at  work  extending  our  lines. 
Battery  E  opened  fire  upon  the  Confederate  entrenchment.  This  drew  upon 
the  little  four-gun  organization  the  fire  of  both  the  forts  in  its  front,  the  larger 
fort  being  r,8oo  yards  distant.  During  this  exchange  of  projectiles  a  well-directed 
shot  from  the  nearer  fort  exploded  the  limber  chest  of  gun  No.  4,  scattering  the 
broken  limber  —  exploding  and  unexploded  projectiles,  implements  and  equip- 
ments in  all  directions.  The  sound  was  deafening,  but,  although  a  dozen 
members  of  the  company  were  within  two  rods,  and  Gens.  William  F.  Smith, 
Barry,  Davidson  and  several  of  their  staff  officers  were  within  six  rods  of  the 
dangerous  explosion,  no  one  was  hurt. 

Probably  no  more  gallant  action  occurred  in  the  course  of  the  war  than  that 
.performed  by  Sergt.  (afterward  First  Lieut.)  David  L.  Smith,  chief  of  piece  (No.  4 
gun)  at  this  time,  who,  while  shells  were  still  exploding,  and  the  two  divisions, 
in  which  projectiles  in  a  limber  or  ammunition  chest  are  always  packed,  were 
still  smoking,  seized  a  pail  of  water  standing  near,  and  running  up,  dashed  it 
over  the  smoking  ruins.  Others  there  were.  Privates  Hickox  and  William  H. 
Kershner,  that  followed  Smith's  brave  example;  but  to  him  particularly  belongs 
the  honor.  The  generals  all  personally  commended  him,  and  in  due  time 
Sergeant  Smith  became  a  second  lieutenant  and  finally  first  lieutenant,  and  with 
Battery  M  of  his  regiment  participated  in  all  the  glorious  campaigns  of  Sherman 
from  Chattanooga  to  Raleigh.  Many  pieces  of  the  exploded  limber  were  sent 
home  as  relics,  in  the  shape  of  boxes,  crosses,  rings  and  other  mementoes. 

After  leaving  Winn's  Mills,  as  named  by  the  Confederates,  or  Warwick  Court 
House,  as  known  to  the  Federals,  the  battery  lay  for  something  over  a  week 
opposite,  but  nearly  two  miles  from  the  Rebel  fortifications  at  Lee's  Mills.  On 
April  1 6th,  at  an  early  hour,  reconnoitring  parties  of  infantry  demonstrated  the 
fact  than  an  extensive  fortified  line  existed  from  the  York  to  the  James  River, 
the  most  assailable  part  of  which  was  supposed  to  be  in  the  immediate  front  of 
Smith's  Division.  It  received  orders  to  reconnoiter  in  force.  The  advance 
consisted  of  the  celebrated  Vermont  Brigade  and  the  Third  New  York  Indepen- 
dent Battery,  which  force  no  sooner  appeared  at  the  edge  of  a  clearing  in  front 
of  Dam  No.  2,  as  the  works  immediately  in  front  of  us  were  named 
by  our  engineer  officers,  then  the  enemy  opened  several  guns  upon 
them.  The  Third  New  York  Battery  having  been,  at  a  distance  of  1,000 
yards,  rather  severely  handled.  General  McClellan  being  present,  and 
near  a  gun  on  which  seven  out  of  nine  men  were  killed  or  wounded,  it  was 
deemed  advisable  to  concentrate  a  heavier  artillery  fire,  and  at  closer  range,  upon 
the  works.  For  this  purpose,  in  addition  to  the  Third  New  York  Battery, 
Battery  F,  Fifth  United  States,  and  Battery  E  were  formed  in  line  in  the  edge 
of  the  cleared  field,  1,000  yards  wide.  Battery  E  in  the  center,  the  regular 
battery  on  its  left,  and  advanced  in  the  same  order  until  within  350  yards  of  the 
enemy's  entrenchment,  without  a  shot  being  fired  upon  them.  What  blindness, 
carelessness,  or  fancied  security  was  the  cause  of  this,  is  not  known,  but  in 
less  than  thirty  minutes  not  a  shot  issued  from  the  Rebel  works,  except  during 
the  charge  of  the  Vermonters,  mitil  night,  save  occasionally  a  random  and 


1224  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

defiant  shot  of  some  two  or  three  adventurous  Rebs,  who  bravely  ran,  now  and 
then  a  howitzer  up  to  an  embrasure  in  fheir  works,  and  fired  excitedly  and  with 
ineffective  aim. 

After  this  delusive  lull  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  the  belief  began  to  gain 
ground  that  they  were  abandoning  their  works.  It  was,  therefore,  determined 
to  send  part  of  the  Vermont  Brigade  across  the  marshy  fiat,  dignified  by  the 
title  of  "  river."  How  these  brave  men  fared,  how  the  flood  gates  of  the  dam 
were  opened  upon  them,  how  they  fought  and  fell,  and  retreated  discomfited  but 
not  disgraced,  belongs  to  the  history  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys. 

During  the  charge,  however,  the  First  New  York  Battery  (afterwards 
Cowan's)  was  added  to  the  artillery  force,  and  a  tempest  of  cannon  shot  from 
twenty-two  guns  kept  many  a  prudent  Rebel's  head  below  the  earthworks,  or 
hurried  and  rendered  faulty  the  aim  of  others  more  daring,  saving  in  this  way 
the  life  of  many  a  boy  in  blue,  if  not  annihilating  many  Johnnies  in  gray. 

At  dusk,  all  of  General  Smith's  force  except  two  regiments  and  the  First  New 
York  Battery  withdrew;  and  in  the  morning  daylight  revealed  to  the  astonished 
enemy  a  line  of  works  for  ten  guns,  completely  commanding  theirs,  which 
works  were  afterwards  increased  to  accommodate  sixteen  guns. 

Here  daily  and  nightly,  for  nearly  three  weeks,  occurred  various  little 
skirmishes  and  night  alarms,  in  which  the  casualties  were  few,  except  the  deaths 
resulting  from  exposure.  Battery  E  had  its  share  of  this  tedious  duty,  being 
in  the  trenches  about  six  days  and  nights  out  of  every  ten. 

During  the  exciting  days  when  Battery  E  lay  in  this  position,  some  remark- 
able movements  were  noticed  within  the  enemy's  entrenchments,  and  brisk 
fusilades  occurred  between  the  sharpshooters.  Some  of  these  infantrymen  on 
our  side,  as  a  protection  to  themselves,  had  thrown  up  brush  and  rails  so  as  to 
completely  destroy  the  range  of  two  of  Battery  E's  guns.  These  had  to  be  re- 
moved. No  one  coveted  the  job,  but  a  junior  heuteriant,  with  Otis  C.  Billings, 
and  an  infantryman  vi^hose  name  does  not  appear  in  any  of  the  records, 
volunteered  to  remove  them.  The  infantryman  was  killed  at  once.  Billings 
afterwards  lost  his  life  at  Gettysburg.  The  lieutenant  lived  through  the  war, 
and  for  many  years  afterward. 

The  first  death  of  the  company  occurring  after  going  to  the  field  was  that  of 
William  F.  Payne,  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Bradford,  Steuben  county.  He 
was  never  a  strong  young  man,  and  his  failure  to  survive  the  exposures  of  camp 
life  was  not  surprising. 

The  siege  of  Yorktown  was  in  reality  a  siege  of  an  intrenched  line.  By  the 
York  or  James  rivers  lay  the  route  by  which  the  position  must  be  flanked  to  be 
taken.  Yorktown  and  Gloucester  controlled  the  one;  the  other,  the  navy  failed 
to  open.  A  force  landing  at  Urbana,  and  marching  overland  to  West  Point, 
would  have  opened  the  way. 

The  siege  of  Yorktown  terminated  very  abruptly  on  the  morning  of  May  4, 
1862.  Already  the  gunners  had  taken  their  places  at  the  siege  pieces,  prepara- 
tory to  a  grand  bombardment,  and  only  awaited  the  morning  to  open  a  furious 
cannonade  upon  the  Rebel  intrenchments,  preliminary  to  a  grand  assault,  when 
information  was  received  that  the  forces  of  Johnston  and  Magruder  were  with- 
drawing from  their  line. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1225 

Battery  E  crossed  "  Dam  No.  2,"  the  first  of  the  artillery  of  Smith's  Division, 
and  during  a  pause  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Warwick  were  gratified  by  ob- 
serving the  marks  of  their  previous  firing.  Just  where  they  fell,  lay  the  mules 
and  one  of  the  men  that  E's  cannoneers  greeted  with  a  storm  of  shot  and  shell 
on  the  memorable  i6th  of  April,  while  they  were  endeavoring  to  drag  a  dis- 
abled gun  from  under  fire. 

In  due  time  the  column  had  crossed;  then  commenced  the  hurried  chase  for 
the  next  battle-field.  It  seems  now,  that  no  such  haste  was  desired  by  the 
general  commanding,  and  that  no  engagement  was  anticipated ;  it  being  his  plan 
by  not  hurrying  the  enemy's  movements  to  be  enabled  to  place  a  force  via  York 
River  in  their  rear  at  West  Point.  The  subordinate  generals,  however,  eager 
for  the  fray,  pressed  on  entirely  independent,  the  one  of  the  other. 

Keyes'  and  Heintzelman's  columns  collided  at  a  point  on  the  Williamsburg 
and  Yorktown  Pike,  about  four  miles  east  of  the  field  of  the  coming  battle,  and 
the  dispute  for  possession  of  the  road  occurred  just  at  that  point  in  Keyes' 
column  (Smith's  Division  being  then  in  Keyes'  Corps)  that  Battery  E  happened 
to  occupy.  High  words  occurred  between  staff  officers  and  the  commander  of 
the  battery,  who  finally  gave  way  only  by  the  appearance  and  personal  orders  of 
General  Heintzelman  himself. 

Generals  Keyes  and  Smith  stormed  and  raved  at  the  interruption,  and  in 
return  cut  the  Third  Corps'  column  before  a  brigade  had  passed.  At  another 
point  in  the  line  of  march,  General  Sumner  was  crowding  General  Hooker's 
column,  so  that  by  night  the  army  lay  sadly  mixed,  angry,  wet,  and  cold, 
mud-clogged  and  weary  near  the  banks  of  SkifiE's  and  Queen's  creeks,  the  first 
line  of  the  defences  of  Williamsburg. 

Gen.  William  F.  Smith,  in  defiance  of  orders,  quietly  dispatched  Hancock's 
Brigade  and  Cowan's  Battery  to  take  possession  of  the  abandoned  works  of  the 
enemy  on  Queen's  Creek,  which  opened  a  route  completely  flanking  Long- 
street's  position  at  Fort  Magruder.  Shortly  afterwards  the  Vermont  Brigade 
and  Wheeler's  Battery  were  ordered  to  join  Hancock,  and  Battery  E,  being 
nearest  the  road,  started  off  on  a  gallop,  urged  on  by  one  of  General  Smith's 
stafif  officers,  who  knew  that  if  General  Keyes  found  out  the  fact  it  would  be 
immediately  recalled. 

Not  so  fortunate  were  the  Vermonters,  who  could  be  easily  overtaken  by 
orderlies  on  horseback,  and  they,  murmuring,  returned  to  their  position;  but, 
ere  orders  could  reach  Hancock  and  his  artillery,  they  were  sharply  engaged 
with  the  enemy,  and  withdrawal  was  impossible.  For  this  assumption  of 
authority,  General  Smith  was  about  being  placed  in  arrest,  when  General 
McClellan's  order  arrived  (he  coming  himself  a  half  hour  after)  that  Hancock 
be  reinforced. 

While  this  conflict  of  orders  and  authority  was  going  on  in  the  rear,  quite 
another  conflict  was  taking  place  at  the  front.  Wheeler's  Battery  reached  the 
high  ground  beyond  the  commanding  and  strangely  neglected  works  of  Queen's 
Creek,  to  see  the  outer  redoubts  of  the  enemy  just  occupied  by  our  skirmishers, 
after  a  little  picket  firing,  and  the  noble  command  of  Hancock  marching  forward 
in  line  of  battle,  their  flags  streaming,  their  only  music  the  crack  of  the  skir- 
mishers' rifle,  or  the  shrill  whistle  of  the  bullet.  . 


1226  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

On  an  elevation  in  the  field  chosen  by  Hancock,  was  posted  the  main  part  of 
his  force,  where  he  awaited  reinforcements  which  he  had  been  assured  were 
coming,  but  of  which  only  Wheeler's  Battery  arrived.  Having  been  assured  that 
other  reinforcements  were  immediately  in  our  rear,  he  proceeded  to  do  what, 
without  further  infantry  support  at  hand,  was  extremely  hazardous,  namely,  to 
advance  the  ten  pieces  of  artillery  composing  the  brigade  600  or  700  yards 
nearer  the  great  fort  of  the  enemy,  with  a  support  immediately  near  them  of  only 
one  regiment,  the  gallant  Fifth  Wisconsin.  This  artillery  brigade  was  so  posted 
that  its  right  flank  was  within  600  yards  of  dense  woods. 

Cowan's  Battery  fired  first,  but  who  remained  to  fire  the  last:  shot  is  yet  to 
be  narrated.  This  opening  of  fire  occurred  at  about  4  p.  m.,  and  was  continued 
at  ordinary  intervals,  and  with  careful  aim  for  about  half  an  hour,  when  an 
infantry  force  of  the  enemy,  and  a  small  force  of,  say  100,  cavalry,  or  else 
the  staff  and  escort  of  some  prominent  general,  were  discovered  massing  behind 
an  earthwork  midway  between  the  artillery  and  Fort  Magruder.  A  little  rapid 
but  effective  firing  drove  them  out  of  sight,  and  apparently  back  to  their  rifle 
pits  near  the  fort;  but  not  so,  they  had  marched  through  a  ravine  to  the  cover 
of  the  woods. 

Battery  E  had  the  right  flank  near  the  woods,  and  from  the  fire  of  the  fort 
was  sheltered  both  by  a  slight  rise  in  their  front,  and  some  bams  and  out- 
buildings, which  hid  their  guns  so  completely  as  to  avoid  much  of  the  enemy's 
fire,  and  through  the  intervals  of  the  enemy's  fire  a  good  range  was  obtained. 
To  these  facts  are  due  the  entire  immunity  from  loss  in  Battery  E  at  this  point, 
while  Cowan,  unprotected,  lost  one  killed  and  one  wounded,  losing  two  more 
wounded  afterwards. 

The  infantry  not  arriving.  General  Hancock  had  just  dispatched  a  staff 
officer  to  recall  the  artillery  (who  arrived  when  the  enemy's  forces  were  just 
within  range,  and,  therefore,  too  late),  when,  shouting  like  demons,  up  a 
ravine  on  our  right,  to  within  400  yards,  came  the  Twenty-fourth  Virginia. 
Simultaneously  from  behind  the  shelter  of  the  midway  earthworks,  and  the 
edge  of  the  woods,  suddenly  the  enemy  developed  two  lines  of  battle.  Through 
their  ranks  coursed  the  case-shot;  they  heeded  not.  Like  gregarious  birds 
before  the  hunter's  shot,  they  fell  under  a  heavy  fire  of  canister;  but  on  they 
came,  caring  not,  apparently,  for  the  storm  of  shot  rained  into  their  very  faces. 

Their  line  of  battle  assumed  the  form  of  a  letter  J,  and  Wheeler's  Battery  lay 
in  the  curve  of  the  letter.  The  Fifth  Wisconsin  had  fallen  back  in  our  rear,  and 
fired  only  at  the  forces  nearly  in  rear  of  the  right  of  the  battery.  Had  not  the 
cluster  of  negro  huts,  in  the  yards  and  gardens  of  which  we  were  posted,  pro- 
tected us,  our  loss  must  have  been  heavy,  but  only  a  few  horses  wounded,  and 
many  hairbreadth  escapes  as  evidenced  by  marks  on  clothes  and  equipments, 
told  of  the  fire  of  the  Fifth  North  Carolina,  which  was  immediately  in  our  front. 

Cowan  had  withdrawn.  The  enemy's  line  in  our  front  (the  straight  part  of 
the  letter  J)  was  coming  steadily  on,  not  over  a  hundred  yards  distant;  the  others 
were  within  as  many  feet  of  us,  but  separated  from  us  by  a  fence,  and  checked 
and  somewhat  broken  up  by  the  Fifth  Wisconsin,  when  the  order  was  given 
to  withdraw.  One  gun,  with  an  axle  broken  by  the  recoil  of  the  firing,  had  been 
sent  off  the  field;  three  remained,  and  of  these,  gun  No.  2,  Corp.  James  Bryant, 


New  York  at  Gettysburg,  1227 

gunner,  became  entangled  with  the  rubbish  of  the  fence;  ten  anxious  pair  of 
hands  hurriedly  loosened  it,  and,  then,  supposing  everything  to  be  safe,  they  ran 
towards  our  supports  on  the  eminence  first  referred  to.  As  if  to  test  the  courage 
of  its  gunner,  the  mud-clogged  carriage  again  refused  to  move.  Most  of  the 
men  were  running  for  dear  life;  bullets  whistled  unpleasantly,  striking  every- 
tliing  but  the  few  pieces  of  human  flesh  struggling  to  save  themselves  the  dis- 
grace of  the  loss  of  a  piece.  Finally,  hatless,  dismounted,  the  drivers  ran  by 
the  sides  of  the  horses  plying  the  whip,  and  the  gunner  clinging  to  the 
muzzle  of  his  piece,  was  the  last  cannoneer  to  leave  the  field,  without  whose 
courage,  and  almost  superhuman  strength,  and  his  complete  control  over  those 
who  remained  with  him,  one  of  Battery  E's  guns  must  have  fallen  a  prize  to  the 
enemy.     Such  a  soldier  was  James  Bryant. 

On  the  slope  where,  a  few  minutes  before,  lay  4,000  men,  only  perhaps  500 
were  to  be  seen,  ipcluding  the  retreating  and  somewhat  broken  Wisconsin 
boys,  that  gallant  900  that  stood  manfully  up  in  the  face  of  fully  5,000.  Coming 
rapidly  into  position  appeared  Cowan's  guns;  no  room  appeared  to  be  allowed 
for  Wheeler's  three-fourths  of  a  battery.  A  staff  officer  of  General  Smith,  one 
but  that  day  appointed,  ordered  the  battery  to  the  rear,  then  went  to  the 
caissons,  and  started  them  off  on  a  cjinter,  until  Sergeant  Scarvell,  believing  said 
officer  slightly  demoralized,  disobeyed  him  and  halted.  Captain  Wheeler, 
seeing  that  the  infantry  were  only  drawn  behind  the  hill  to  lure  the  enemy  on  to 
the  apparently  easy  prize  of  Cowan's  guns,  held  out  to  them  the  extra  induce- 
ment of  three  guns  more,  the  nine  pieces  of  artillery  all  the  while  demonstrating 
to  "  Johhny  Reb  "  how  efficient  they  were  by  rapid  discharges  of  canister. 

Those  deluded  rebels  came  up  to  within  six  rods,  some  gallant  spirits  to  within 
forty  feet,  when  over  the  little  rise,  silently  and  steadily  came  towards  them  a  line 
of  2,500  bayonets,  while  from  the  redoubt  about  the  Sixth  Maine,  the  well- 
directed  bullets  of  the  "  Down  Easter  "  stung  their  gray  jackets. 

The  portion  of  the  Rebel  line  immediately  in  front  of  Wheeler  pressed  up  and 
delivered  one  volley  into  the  Seventh  Maine  and  Battery  E,  mortally  wounding 
that  gallant  soldier,  Alexander  Adams,  whose  superior  the  battery  had  not,  and 
who,  at  the  moment  of  injury,  was  earnestly  struggling  to  get  his  gun  out  of 
danger.  The  danger  of  capture  was  imminent;  the  second  line  of  battle  of  the 
enemy  was  steadily  coming  on.  Between  Battery  E's  guns  and  the  Seventh 
Maine,  a  small  party  of  the  enemy  had  obtruded,  when  the  junior  officers  of  the 
battery  ordered  the  guns  limbered  up,  while  Captain  Wheeler,  mounted,  threw 
himself  at  the  head  of  the  almost  demoralized  left  wing  of  the  Seventh  Maine, 
and  rallying  it,  drove  the  enemy  down  the  slope,  following  them  with  a  few 
followers,  while  the  artillery  were  firing  into  the  midst  of  them,  across  several 
rods  of  the  plain,  and  bringing  in  several  prisoners.  When  the  second  line  of 
the  enemy  saw  the  complete  discomfiture  of  their  predecessors,  part  of  them, 
panic  stricken,  broke  and  ran,  but  the  main  body  marched  away  as  though  on 
parade,  even  while  the  projectiles  of  the  coveted  artillery  tore  through  their 
ranks. 

Just  too  late  to  be  of  any  use  came  up  the  rest  of  the  division,  and  between 
dark  and  daylight  two  whole  divisions  (Couch  and  Casey)  bivouacked  near  at 
hand;  but  when  morning  came,  the  golden  moment  had  fled;  5  o'clock,  p.  m., 


1228  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

of  May  5th  was  gone,  and  5  a.  m.  of  May  6th  was  no  substitute  for  it.  The 
enemy  had  withdrawn.  Thus,  on  the  fifth  day  of  the  fifth  month  in  the  year,  the 
Fifth  Wisconsin  met  the  Fifth  North  Carolina  to  the  utter  dismay,  confusion  ant. 
rout  of  the  one,  and  the  lasting  recollection,  fame  and  honor  of  the  other. 

For  three  days  the  battery  lay  encamped  immediately  upon  the  ground  where 
the  final  shot  of  that  memorable  day  was  fired  ere  it  started  for  new  scenes  and 
new  perils.  On  the  9th  of  May  the  formation  of  the  Sixth  Army  Corps  was 
announced.  Heretofore  Battery  E  had  been  a  part  of  Keyes'  Army  Corps,  and 
the  battery,  in  common  with  many  other  organizations,  was  not  particularly 
anxious  to  remain  under  his  command.  Gen.  William  F.  Smith,  in  charge  o» 
the  Second  Division  of  the  new  corps,  was  continued  as  the  superior  officer. 

On  Sunday,  May  nth,  while  encamped  near  the  Court  House,  the  company 
lost  the  services  of  Sergt.  Alson  W.  Davis  (formerly  of  Avoca,  N.  Y.),  who  had 
the  misfortune  to  wound  himself  with  his  revolver  in  precisely  the  same  manner 
as  Lieutenant  James  had  done  on  the  Sth  of  April  preceding.  He  never  re- 
joined his  company,  but  was  finally  discharged  after  a  considerable  sojourn  in 
hospital  at  Elkton,  Md.  Sergeant  Davis  eventually  entered  the  service  again, 
but  in  what  command  we  are  unable  to  state. 

Marching  to  New  Kent  Court  House,  thence  the  next  day  to  Cumberland 
Landing  on  the  Pamunkey  River,  the  new  corps  on  the  4th  of  May  reached  the 
White  House,  a  now  well-known  point  rendered  familiar  by  the  incidents  of  the 
war.  Five  days  were  consumed  in  the  building  of  wharves,  repairing  the  rail- 
road, and  establishing  a  base  of  supplies,  and  on  the  19th,  in  common  with 
the  corps  to  which  it  belonged.  Battery  E  took  up  a  line  of  march  towards  the 
Confederate  capital. 

May  22d  found  the  battery  at  New  Cold  Harbor  without  any  eventful 
occurrences  en  route,  from  which  point,  on  the  23d,  Davidson's  Brigade, 
consisting  of  the  Thirty-third,  Forty-ninth,  and  Seventy-seventh  New  York,  and 
Seventh  Maine  regiments,  and  Wheeler's  Battery,  moved  out  on  the  Mechanics- 
ville  Turnpike  on  a  reconnoissance. 

Some  slight  skirmishing  had  occurred  between  General  Stoneman's  command 
and  the  enemy,  and  a  large  force  was  deemed  expedient  to  enable  Stoneman 
to  extend  his  observations  farther  in  the  direction  of  McDowell's  expected 
advance  by  protecting  a  line  by  which  he  might  be  compelled  to  return.  (What 
a  sad  mishap  and  oversight  was  it  that  that  advance  never  was  made !) 

At  dusk  the  reconnoitring  party  had  advanced  to,  and  immediately  across,  a 
small  creek  about  a  mile  from  Mechanicsville,  where  it  relieved  two  guns  of  a 
regular  battery  and  a  regiment  of  cavalry.  At  daylight  Captain  Wheeler  opened 
fire  upon  Mechanicsville  at  a  range  of  about  1,500  yards,  putting  the  projectiles 
through  the  houses,  among  which  the  enemy  were  ensconced,  but  not  forcing 
them  to  abandon  the  town,  or  reply  but  with  a  few  rounds  of  artillery 
ammunition. 

The  coolness  of  the  foe  exasperated  General  Davidson,^- an  officer  always 
nervous  in  movement,  and  strong  in  the  use  of  language, —  who  vehemently 
declared  that  Battery  E's  gunnery  was  sadly  at  fault,  and  very  disgraceful, 
ending  by  ordering  it  up  to  within  400  yards.     A  very  few  rounds  from  this 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1229 

new  point  unearthed  the  game,  who,  seeing  the  infantry  preparing  to  charge, 
hurriedly  decamped. 

Upon  entering  the  town,  the  general  seeing  around  him  the  unmistakable 
evidences  of  Battery  E's  effective  fire, —  not  one  house  in  the  town  being  un- 
touched, and  many  completely  riddled, —  made  the  amende  honorable  by  apologiz- 
ing to  the  captain  in  the  presence  of  the  command.  Harper's  Weekly  honored 
the  battery  with  an  illustration.  The  loss  of  Battery  E  was  confined  to  two  or 
three  horses,  one  of  these  being  the  saddle  horse  of  Lieut.  R.  J.  Parker. 

On  the  26th,  after  occupying  the  town  long  enough  to  cover  the  return  of  < 
General  Stoneman,  the  battery  withdrew  to  the  vicinity  of  Gaines'  House,  up  to 
which  point  the  remainder  of  the  corps  had,  in  the  battery's  absence,  advanced. 
At  this  point  the  command  remained  stationary  for  nearly  two  weeks.  Here, 
within  sound  of  the  musketry  and  within  sight  of  the  exploding  shells,  lay 
nearly  two  whole  corps  during  the  hard-fought  contest  of  Fair  Oaks  or  Seven 
Pines  on  the  31st  of  May  and  ist  of  June,  unable  to  reach  the  field  from  which 
they  were  separated  by  the  swollen  waters  of  the  Chickahominy. 

Sad  day  was  the  31st  of  May,  1862,  to  the  First  Regiment  of  New  York 
Artillery.  Dead,  where  they  had  so  bravely  yet  so  vainly  fought,  lay  its  beloved 
colonel,  still  young  in  years  but  old  in  all  the  noble  traits  that  go  to  make  up 
a  man  and  a  soldier.  There,  also,  lay  the  junior  major,  a  friend  of  every  one 
who  knew  him.  There,  too,  Adjutant  Rumsey  received  a  severe  wound  in  the 
shoulder,  and  one  captain  of  the  regiment  was  severely  hurt.  There  never  were 
any  two  men  connected  with  the  regiment,  from  its  organization  to  its  final 
muster  out,  so  generally  beloved,  respected  and  admired,  as  Col.  Guilford  D. 
Bailey,  and  Maj.  David  H.  Van  Valkenburg. 

By  far  the  most  important  event  that  ever  occurred  to  Battery  E,  First  New 
York  Artillery,  was  the  accident  from  lightning  on  the  30th  of  June,  1862. 
To  this  casualty  was  due  directly  the  breaking  up  of  the  organization  a  few 
weeks  afterwards.  Deemed  but  of  comparatively  trifling  consequence  at  first, 
the  effects  of  this  untoward  circumstance  became  more  apparent  every  day. 

At  about  2  a.  m.  of  the  day  mentioned,  in  the  midst  of  one  of  those  astound- 
ing thunderstorms  of  that  summer,  a  stroke  of  lightning,  evidently  attracted  by 
the  large  amount  of  metal  in  and  about  the  guns,  apparently  filling  the  whole 
atmosphere,  shocking  and  benumbing  every  one  of  the  command  more  or  less, 
was  fatally  effective  upon  the  body  of  Corp.  James  Bryant,  and  productive  of 
infinite  mischief  to  the  nervous  systems  of  many  others  of  the  company.  From 
injuries  received  at  this  time  the  battery  lost  ere  the  ist  of  August,  by  death, 
discharge,  or  confirmed  sickness,  seventeen  men.  Nearly  every  horse  of  the 
organization  became  utterly  worthless  for  service,  the  larger  number  of  them 
having  been  thrown  violently  to  the  ground  at  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the 
electrical  current.  No  amount  of  studious  care  nor  full  feeding  was  able  to 
revive  them,  and  when  from  the  losses  of  the  Seven  Days'  fighting  and  retreat  it 
became  necessary  to  recruit  three  of  the  four  batteries  of  artillery  to  an  effective 
standard  at  the  expense  of  the  fourth,  Battery  E,  always  too  small,  then  reduced 
in  men  and  horses  and  equally  defective  with  the  others  in  ammunition  and 
stores,  with  two  officers  unfitted  by  sickness  for  any  duty,  was  necessarily  and 
properly  chosen  for  dismemberment. 


1^30  New  York  at  Gettysburg, 

Dejected  by  its  losses,  and  while  the  men  were  still  weak  from  the  shock  to 
their  nervous  systems,  the  movement  across  the  marshes  of  the  Chickahominy 
on  the  5th  of  June  began,  a  difficult  march  to  even  an  effective  command.  The 
new  position  taken  up  by  the  Sixth  Corps  was  on  the  south  bank  of  the  stream, 
not  over  two  miles  as  the  crow  flies,  from  Gaines'  House,  but  only  reached  at  the 
time  of  crossing  by  the  Grapevine  Bridge,  a  march  of  fully  ten  miles,  through  a 
bottomless  country  if  one  might  judge  by  the  unaccountable  disappearance  of 
wheels,  hoofs,  feet,  and  everything  animate  and  inanimate  that  endeavored  to, 
or  was  caused  to,  travel  over  it.  Grapevine  Bridge  was  a  structure  of  logs  lying . 
on  the  water  in  reality,  but  was  supposed  to  be  supported  by  cribs,  which  only 
sank  in  the  unsoundable  mud  of  the  low  marsh,  and  the  crossing  of  which,  with 
heavy  pieces  of  artillery,  was  not  a  little  hazardous. 

Darkness  had  settled  down,  almost  Egyptian  in  its  density,  before  the  tired, 
dispirited  men  of  "  E  "  threw  themselves  down  upon  the  water-soaked  earth  of 
what  afterwards  became  the  site  of  Fort  Davidson,  and  part  of  the  grand  camp 
styled  "  Camp  Lincoln." 

General  Smith's  Division  occupied  a  point  in  our  lines  near  the  southern  end 
of  New  Bridge,  upon  the  farm  of  a  Mr.  Golding,  and  opposite  a  position  of  the 
enemy  known  as  Old  Tavern,  near  which  was  an  antiquated  church  (Old 
Church),  both  of  which  buildings  were  visible  from  the  Union  picket  line  in 
Smith's  front.  From  this  point  the  enemy  saluted  the  part  of  the  line  occupied 
by  Battery  E  daily,  at  sunset,  with  one  or  more  shotted  guns,  very  much  to  the 
annoyance  of  the  Bath  boys,  but  resulting  in  no  damage  beyond  the  upsetting 
of  one  of  Gould's  kettles  of  some  savory  dish  in  course  of  preparation. 

Battery  E,  by  the  loth  of  June,  had  become  reduced  to  fifty-three  men  fit 
for  duty.  The  other  artillery  organizations  were  reduced  in  proportion,  to 
remedy  which  a  detail  from  infantry  was  made,  and  of  which  some  eight  or 
ten  men  from  the  Twentieth  (Turner  Rifles  of  New  York  City)  and  Forty-ninth 
(Buffalo),  New  York  regiments  were  assigned  to  Captain  Wheeler.  The  men 
of  the  Twentieth  never  became  very  efficient  artillerists,  yet  they  were  of 
much  assistance  in  performing  the  daily  duties  of  the  command,  and  were  more 
self-caring  and  less  fault-finding  than  the  original  members  of  the  company, 
who,  by  this  time,  were  so  thoroughly  tired  of  military  life  and  disheartened  by 
the  reduced  state  of  the  command  as  materially  to  injure  their  usefulness. 
Captain  Wheeler  was  far  from  well  and  Lieutenant  Underbill  was  confined 
to  his  quarters  with  malarial  fever.  The  care  of  the  company,  therefore,  de- 
volved on  Lieutenant  Parker.  Sergeant  Cunningham  had  just  been  promoted 
from  the  position  of  corporal  to  orderly  sergeant,  vice  Scarvel,  discharged  for 
disability,  whose  disability  had  been  augmented  by  the  disastrous  stroke  of 
lightning. 

On  the  evening  of  July  26th,  it  having  been  announcel  that  General  Hooker 
had  advanced  his  part  of  the  line  (the  left  center)  a  half  mile,  as  the  result  of 
the  sharp  firing  of  that  afternoon,  preparatory  to  a  grand  advance  of  our  entire 
line,  all  was  joy  in  the  Union  camps.  Bands  played  patriotic  airs  until  late  in 
the  night,  and  around  unusually  brilliant  and  late  camp  fires,  regardless  of  tattoo 
and  taps,  sat  squads  of  eager  soldiers  canvassing  the  probabilities  of  the  morrow. 
During  the  day,  firing  had  been  heard  on  the  extreme  right,  but  it  was  thought 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  123  i 

that  this  might  be  McDowell  approaching  to  take  part  in  the  grand  finale,  or  a 
feint  on  McCall's  part  to  distract  the  attention  of  the  enemy.  Before,  however, 
the  last  eyes  were  closed  in  camp,  it  was  confidentially  whispered  among  stafif 
officers  and  their  confidants,  that  Lee  was  at  work  on  our  right. 

Sleepless  were  the  eyes  of  those  whose  responsibility  allowed  them  no  rest. 
Morning  was  ushered  in  by  the  roar  of  artillery  and  the  rattle  of  small  arms. 
Demonstrations  in  Smith's  front  occupied  the  attention  of  his  troops,  so  that  no 
general  anxiety  pervaded  that  part  of  the  line,  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when, 
slowly  withdrawing,  appeared  our  forces  on  Gaines'  Hill,  and  steadily  advancing 
came  those  of  the  enemy.  Shot  after  shot  was  sent  whizzing  from  Smith's  front 
clear  across  the  Chickahominy  into  the  almost  undistinguishable  lines  of  gray, 
by  a  couple  of  Whitworth  guns  stationed  immediately  upon  the  left  of  Wheeler's 
Battery  —  the  guns  speaking  volumes  of  praise  for  their  donors,  "  the  loyal 
Americans  residing  in  Europe,"  and  well  repaying  their  cost. 

Neither  shot,  nor  shell,  nor  volley,  nor  charge,  was  able  to  stop  the  over- 
whelming forces  of  the  enemy,  and  by  dusk  masses  of  fugitives,  bodies  of  organ- 
ized troops,  and  scattered  pieces  of  artillery,  poured  over  New  and  Alexandria 
bridges  into  the  camp  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  Before  dawn  every  organized  body 
of  the  unsuccessful  contestants  of  yesterday's  conflict  were  south  of  the  Chicka- 
hominy and  the  bridges  were  destroyed. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  under  a  heavy  fire  resulting  in  wounding  two 
of  the  Twentieth  New  York  recruits,  and  the  disabling  of  two  or  three  horses, 
Battery  E,  Cowan's,  and  the  Regular  Battery  withdrew  from  the  works  occupied 
by  them  for  something  over  three  weeks;  but  when  the  last  battery  of  the  corps, 
the  Third  New  York,  and  the  infantry,  attempted  to  withdraw,  the  enemy 
made  a  charge,  compelling  them  to  hurriedly  reoccupy  their  position.  Colonel 
Lamar  of  Georgia,  commanding  the  assaulting  brigade,  was  wounded  and  cap- 
tured. A  sharp  engagement  ensued,  known  as  the  battle  of  Golding's  Farm. 
The  battery  just  mentioned  bears  the  name  upon  its  colors,  and  was  highly  com- 
plimented by  the  general  of  division  for  its  gallantry. 

That  night  Battery  E  bivouacked  near  Savage  Station,  withdrawing  in  the 
afternoon  to  White  Oak  Swamp  bridge,  which,  having  been  constructed  for 
offensive  purposes,  proved  the  salvation  of  a  large  part  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac. 

Having  crossed  the  swamp  during  the  night,  Franklin's  Corps  formed  in  line 
of  battle  upon  the  heights  on  the  southwest  of  the  swamp,  commanding  the 
bridge,  over  which  poured  an  apparently  endless  throng  of  organized  and  dis- 
organized masses  until  late  in  the  forenoon  of  the  30th.  By  that  time  the  enemy 
having  reconstructed  the  Chickahominy  bridges,  overtook  the  rear  guard  of 
Franklin. 

Silently  the  enemy,  finding  the  crossing  impracticable,  placed  a  great  number 
of  guns  upon  the  opposite  heights,  and  without  any  premonition,  there  burst 
upon  the  tired  and  exhausted  men,  who  lay  lounging  in  the  shade  or  sleeping  off 
the  weariness  occasioned  by  the  night's  march,  a  most  terrific  cannonade. 
Before  the  artillery  of  the  corps  could  be  brought  to  bear  upon  them,  the  con- 
centrated fire  of  the  enemy  rendered  the  position  untenable  to  any  but  infantry 


1232  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

hidden  from  the  enemy's  view.  These,  however,  aided  by  a  flank  fire  of  the 
artillery  of  the  Second  Corps,  completely  swept  the  bridge,  and  prevented  any 
crossing  until  night,  when  the  commands,  marching  on  that  road,  withdrew  to 
Malvern  Hill,  or  the  neighborhood  of  Charles  City  Point  House,—  Franklin  to 
the  latter  named  locality. 

In  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  on  the  ist  of  July,  Franklin's  troops  were  not 
engaged,  and  although  part  of  Battery  E,  together  with  other  of  the  Sixth  Corps 
artillery,  reported  to  General  Richardson,  of  the  Second  Corps,  for  assignment 
to  a  position,  no  room  was  to  be  found  on  the  crowded  field  for  them. 

On  the  2d,  after  marching  through  the  terrible  mud, —  that  no  participant  in 
those  scenes  will  ever  forget, —  tired,  sleepy,  hungry,  and  with  all  that  depres- 
sion that  results  from  the  realization  of  failure  and  defeat,  the  battery  encamped 
about  two  miles  from  Harrison's  Landing  in  sight  of  the  large  brick  church  at 
Charles  City. 

For  services  during  these  trying  days  Captain  Wheeler  and  Lieutenant  Under- 
bill were  recommended  for  brevets  by  Maj.  Gen.  W.  F.  Smith,  and  Corp.  John 
Richardson  was  recommended  to  Col.  C.  S.  Wainwright  for  promotion;  but 
none  of  these  recommendations  seem  ever  to  have  been,  acted  upon. 

On  arriving  at  Harrison's  Landing  it  was  found  that  private  Louis  H.  Covert 
was  very  severely  wounded  in  the  hand  on  the  30th.  Privates  Ingersoll  and 
Thomas  were  missing.  They  afterwards  rejoined  the  battery  via  Richmond 
under  flag  of  truce. 

Priv.  George  D.  Breck,  having  been  somewhat  delicate  since  his  sickness  in 
Washington  in  February,  1862,  and  still  further  debilitated  by  the  effects  of  the 
lightning  on  the  3d  of  June,  died  suddenly  and  quite  unexpectedly  in  hospital 
near  General  McClellan's  headquarters  at  Harrison's  Landing,  July  6th.  He 
was  universally  beloved  and  respected.  Priv.  Thos.  F.  Wilcox  and  Maynard 
Smith,  who  were  in  the  hospital  at  the  time  of  the  commencement  of  the  retreat, 
and  who  could  not  be  removed,  were  captured  at  Savage  Station  on  the  29th  of 
June. 

By  reference  to  a  report  made  to  the  chief  of  artillery  on  the  loth  of  July, 
1862,  it  appears  that  Battery  E  had  one  officer  (Captain  Wheeler)  and  forty-two 
men  for  duty.  This  only  gave  a  sufficient  force  to  furnish  drivers  for  the  thirty 
teams  and  eight  non-commissioned  officers;  thus  leaving  only  four  men  to  man 
the  guns,  making  no  deductions  for  blacksmiths,  saddlers,  wheelwrights,  etc. 
General  Smith  refused  to  draw  further  upon  his  infantry  for  recruits  for  artillery, 
and  so  the  dismemberment  of  this  artillery  organization  became  necessary. 

On  the  19th  Lieut.  R.  J.  Parker  left  the  battery  on  sick  leave,  never  to  return. 
He  died  at  home  about  the  2Sth  of  July.  A  noble-hearted,  rough  but  generous 
man,  of  a  tall  and  athletic  frame,  and  although  but  slightly  versed  in  book 
knowledge,  his  fund  of  hard-bought  experience  seemed  never  failing.  He  was 
certainly  the  least  unpopular  officer  of  the  battery. 

Captain  Wheeler  probably  led  the  way,  though  quite  innocently,  to  the  disrup- 
tion of  the  command.  He  represented,  so  forcibly,  in  his  report  of  July  loth,  his 
deficiency  in  men  and  material,  as  to  induce  the  authorities  to  give  him  leave  to 
recruit. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1233 

The  following  long-expected  order  came  at  last,  having  been  received  two 
days  subsequent  to  the  date  thereof:  , 

Special  Orders,  Headquarters  Army  of  the  Potomac, 

No.  219.  Camp  near  Harrison's  L'g,  July  30,  '62. 

Wheeler's  Battery  E,  First  New  York  Artillery,  serving  in  Smith's  Division, 
will  be  broken  up  under  direction  of  the  division  commander.  The  enlisted 
men  will  be  transferred  to  Cowan's  First  New  York  Battery.  The  lieutenants 
will  be  equally  distributed  between  Cowan's  First  New  York  Battery  and 
Kusserow's  Third  New  York  Battery. 

Captain  Wheeler  is  detailed  on  recruiting  service  and  will  report -for  instruc- 
tion to  the  superintendent  of  recruiting  service  for  New  York. 

The  guns,  harness,  and  all  the  ordnance  material  will  be  turned  in  to  the 
ordnance  department.  Such  horses  as  are  not  required  by  the  other  batteries  of 
the  division  will  be  turned  in  to  the  quartermaster's  department. 

By  command  of 

MAJ.  GEN.  McCLELLAN. 
S.  Williams,  A.  A.  G. 

This  order  was  respectfully  referred  to  Captain  Wheeler,  who  was  ordered 
"  not  to  turn  over  the  men  now,"  and  some  attempt  was  made  to  annul  the  whole 
proceeding,  but  without  ^ffect. 

While  the  battery  still  existed  as  an  organization,  though  shorn  of  its  equip- 
ments and  guns.  Captain  Wheeler,  Sergeant  Cunningham,  and  Corp.  Chas.  W. 
Wright  left  Harrison's  Landing  on  the  2d  of  August,  on  recruiting  service,  and 
arrived  at  their  field  of  labor  on  the  9th  of  the  same  month.  Adjutant 
Rumsey,  who  had  returned,  was  temporarily  sojourning  at  battery  headquarters, 
not  being  able  to  find,  at  that  particular  time,  any  headquarters  of  the  regiment 
at  which  to  report. 

On  the  8th  of  August  the  last  sad  hours  to  the  hearts  of  E's  old  members 
came,  bringing  an  order  for  the  enlisted  men  to  report  to  Captain  Cowan.  On 
the  loth,  Lieutenant  Underbill  was  sent  home  on  sick  leave. 

By  direction  of  General  Smith,  Captain  Cowan  assumed  to  transfer  to  his 
company  all  of  those  "  present  for  duty  "  which,  although  never  contemplated 
by  General  Barry,  the  chief  of  artillery  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  yet  it  was 
made  to  come  within  the  letter  of  the  clause  of  the  order,  "  broken  up  under 
direction  of  the  division  commander."  The  "  present  sick,"  together  with  all 
"  absent "  were  carried  on  Captain  Cowan's  returns  as  "  temporarily  attached," 
giving  to  that  command  an  increase  of  fifty-nine  men  as  follows : 

Transferred 31 

Temporarily  attached,  present  28 

Total 59 

78 


1234  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

There  were  also  "  temporarily  attached  "  twenty-five  who  were  "  absent  sick." 

The  effort  to  recruit  the  company  up  to  the  required  standard  was  unsuccessful. 
Of  the  original  loi  enlisted  men  that  left  Elmira  in  October,  1861,  there  had 
been  killed,  died  or  discharged  for  sickness  or  wounds,  13  men;  3  were  absent 
without  leave,  and  before  January  i,  1863,  at  least  15  of  the  absent  had  been 
discharged.  So  that  when  the  general  recruiting  service  was  broken  up, 
Captain  Wheeler,  with  an  available  force  of  only  14  recruits  out  of  22  which 
he  had  enlisted  (only  being  allowed  to  receive  again  the  28  men  men- 
tioned above,  less  those  lost  by  death  and  discharge,  and  such  others  as  might 
be  in  hospitals  throughout  the  North),  could  only  muster  about  60  men  and 
officers,  thus  being  some  thirty  short  of  the  minimum  strength  for  an  organiza- 
tion. After  first  reporting  to  Gen.  Wm.  F.  Smith  on  the  3d  of  January,  1863, 
and  going  from  authority  to  authority  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  at 
Washington,  without  any  favorable  results.  Captain  Wheeler,  in  disgust, 
tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  accepted  January  21,  1863.  He  left  such  of 
his  recruits  as  he  had  brought  with  him  with  Captain  Cowan,  two  of  whom, 
Michael  Canfield  and  Adolphus  S.  Goodrich,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  became 
lieutenants  in  the  regiment.  Sergeant  Cunningham,  after  serving  out  his  term 
of  enlistment,  having  re-entered  the  regiment  as  a  sergeant  in  Battery  L,  also 
became  a  second  lieutenant  a  few  weeks  previous  to  the  surrender  of  General 
Lee. 

Of  the  men  transferred  to  Cowan's  Battery,  Philander  P.  Thorp  eventually 
became  the  orderly  sergeant  of  that  company;  Francis  M.  Wedge  became  a 
sergeant  of  the  same  organization;  Matthew  McGinnis  was  badly  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  in  June,  1864,  and  was  discharged  in  consequence. 
Harris  Butler,  while  serving  with  a  regular  battery,  was  wounded  at  Cold 
Harbor,  in  June,  1864,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  subsequently  died. 

Of  those  joining  Battery  L,  Robert  D.  Brown  of  Post  Creek,  Steuben  County, 
became  orderly  sergeant;  John  C.  Prentiss  was  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  in 
June,  1864,  but  continued  to  serve  until  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  three  years ; 
and  Wm.  A.  Towle,  wounded  at  the  same  time  and  place,  was  discharged. 

The  further  history  of  the  survivors  of  Battery  E  requires  an  examination  of 
the  records  of  Cowan's  First  New  York  Independent  Battery  and  of  Battery  L, 
First  New  York  Light  Artillery.  After  some  time  a  new  Battery  E  was  formed 
of  which  the  compiler  of  this  account  has  no  reliable  data  at  hand. 

The  subsequent  history  of  the  officers  of  the  battery,  other  than  details 
before  given,  shows  that  Capt.  Chas.  C.  Wheeler,  was  afterwards  brevetted  as 
colonel  by  the  State  of  New  York;  Lieut.  Edward  H.  Underbill  afterwards 
served  with  Cowan's  Battery,  Batteries  B  and  A  of  the  First  New  York  Light 
Artillery,  and  returned  to  New  York  State  as  captain  of  Battery  M,  First  New 
York  Light  Artillery,  being  mustered  out  with  the  latter  organization  at 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  June,  1865. 


J.   B.   LYON  TRINT, 


F.  J.  SEVERENCE,   PHOTO. 


BATTERY   G,   1ST    NEW    YORK    LIGHT     ARTILLERY. 

In  the  Peach  Orchard,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Emmitaburg  Road.    Big  Round  Top  in  the  distance, 

on  the  right. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1235 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

BATTERY  G 

(Ames) 

1st  n.  y.  light  artillery. 


Engaged  here  with  3RD  Corps 

3  p.  M.  TO  5.30  p.  M.  July  2,  1863. 

July  3,  on  Cemetery  Ridge 

WITH  1ST  Div.  2D  Corps 


Casualties,  7  wounded 

(Reverse.) 

Mustered  in  Sept.  22,  1861 

Principal  Engagements. 

Fair  Oaks,  Auburn  Hill 

Peach  Orchard  Bristoe  Station 

Savage  Station  Robertson's  Tavern 

White  Oak  Swamp  Wilderness 

Malvern  Hill  Po  River 

Antietam  Spotsylvania 

Fredericksburg  North  Anna 

Chancellorsville  Totopotomoy 

Gettysburg  Cold  Harbor 

Petersburg  June  16,  1864,  to  April  3,  1865 

Mustered  out  June  19,  1865 


1236  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

BATTERY  G  — "AMES"' 
FIRST  REGIMENT  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 
Historical  Sketch,  by  Capt.  Nelson  Ames. 

There  were  no  formal  exercises  dedicating  the  monument  to  Battery  G, 
First  Regiment,  New  York  Light  Artillery,  on  the  battlefield  of  Gettysburg. 
July  3,  1893.  But  thirteen  of  the  survivors  of  the  battery  were  present,  and 
we  dedicated  the  noble  monument  in  silence  and  in  tears.  No  one  wanted  to 
make  a  speech,  and  none  was  made.  Our  meeting  was  like  the  meeting  of  a 
family,  and  formalities  seemed  out  of  place.  We  dedicated  the  monument  with 
our  tears,  prayed  for  our  dead  comrades  and  for  each  other,  and  indulged  our- 
selves in  loving  each  other  and  the  flag  under  which  we  fought  so  long  and 
so  faithfully. 

Battery  G,  First  New  York  Light  Artillery  was  recruited  at  Mexico,  Oswego 
County,  New  York,  by  Marshall  H.  Rundell  and  Nelson  Ames,  in  September, 
1861.  It  joined  the  regiment  at  the  general  rendezvous  at  Elmira,  and  was 
there  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  three  years,  September  24, 
1 86 1,  by  Captain  Tidball,  United  States  army  mustering  officer,  with  the  fol- 
lowing officers:  Capt.  J.  D.  Frank,  First  Lieut.  Nelson  Ames,  Second  Lieut. 
Marshall  H.  Rundell. 

The  battery  remained  at  Elmira,  engaged  in  drilling  with  the  rest  of  the 
regiment,  for  a  short  time  and  then  went  by  rail  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where 
we  arrived  October  31st,  and  went  into  camp  on  Capitol  Hill  east  of  the  Capitol. 
While  encamped  here,  one  section  of  Busteed's  Battery,  Chicago  Light  Artil- 
lery, was  permanently  assigned  to  Battery  G,  making  it  a  full  six-gun  battery. 
At  Washington,  we  drew  from  the  department,  six  ten-pound  Parrott  guns, 
caissons  and  implements  complete,  including  ammunition  and  horses  for  the 
same. 

The  battery  remained  at  this  place  a  short  time,  driUing  and  preparing  for 
actual  service,  when  we  received  orders  to  join  Major  General  Sumner's  com- 
mand, ours  being  the  first  battery  ordered  to  take  the  field,  from  the  regiment 
of  twelve  batteries. 

We  joined  General  Sumner's  command,  which  was  encamped  on  the  Orange 
and  Alexandria  Turnpike,  some  three  miles  out  from  Alexandria,  Va.,  in 
what  was  known  as  Camp  California.  We  remained  here  during  the  winter 
of  1861-62,  drilling  and  preparing  for  the  spring  campaign.  While  in  this 
camp  during  the  winter,  we  had  a  considerable  amount  of  sickness,  and  several 
deaths,  as  the  men  were  not  accustomed  to  camp  life. 

The  battery  advanced,  with  the  other  troops,  in  the  spring  of  1862,  on 
Manassas,  and  followed  the  enemy  as  far  as  the  Rappahannock  River,  being 
engaged  at  the  latter  place  with  the  enemy's  rear  guard.  With  the  rest  of  the 
troops  we  returned  to  Alexandria  and  took  transports  for  the  Peninsula,  dis- 
embarking at  Fortress  Monroe  and  advancing  with  the  rest  of  the  troops  on 
Yorktown,  where  we  took  part  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  that  place. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1237 

While  before  Yorktown  one  section  of  Hogan's  Battery,  A,  Second  Battalion, 
New  York  Light  Artillery,  was  assigned  to  Battery  G,  making. us  a  full  eight- 
gun  battery  with  6  officers  —  i  captain  and  5  lieutenants. 

On  the  evacuation  of  Yorktown  we  advanced  with  the  army,  but  did  not 
arrive  at  Williamsburg  in  time  to  participate  in  the  battle.  We  continued  on 
up  the  Peninsula,  and  went  into  camp  on  the  north  side  of  the  Chickahominy 
River.  We  remained  there  until  Sunday,  May  30th,  when  the  battle  of  Seven 
Pines  was  opened. 

Just  as  the  battery  came  into  camp  from  Sunday  inspection,  we  received 
orders  to  march  and  cross  the  Chickahominy  River  at  Grapevine  Bridge.  The 
Chickahominy  River  had  overflowed  its  banks  and  much  of  the  way  was 
nearly  a  mile  wide,  and  no  roads.  We  were  from  i  p.  m.,  Sunday,  until  7  a.  m., 
the  next  morning,  making  eight  miles.  All  night  long  we  were  wallowing 
and  floundering  thi-ough  the  mud  and  water.  Much  of  the  way  we  were 
obliged  to  unhitch  the  horses,  although  we  had  ten  on  each  gun,  and  drag 
the  guns  by  hand,  one  at  a  time,  with  drag  ropes.  In  many  places  water  and 
mud  were  from  one  to  three  feet  deep,  and  when  we  crossed  the  river,  we  were 
obliged  to  hold  the  bridge  iq  position,  it  being  all  afloat,  and  soon  after  our 
crossing  it  was  swept  away. 

Arriving  at  the  front,  we  were  soon  in  position,  supported  by  the  Irish 
Brigade  commanded  by  General  Meagher.  At  times  during  the  day  the 
fighting  was  heavy,  the  enemy  repeatedly  charging  our  lines;  but  each  time  he 
was  driven  back  with  heavy  loss.  From  June  ist  to  the  time  the  Seven  Days' 
Battle  began,  one  section,  if  not  more,  of  the  battery  was  kept  on  the  extreme 
front  with  the  infantry  pickets. 

When  the  army  began  the  flank  movement  to  Harrison's  Landing,  we  were 
most  of  the  time  in  the  rear,  with  General  Sumner's  Second  Corps,  covering 
the  rear  of  the  army. 

At  Malvern  Hill,  July  ist,  we  were  heavily  engaged,  the  enemy  charging 
our  battery  three  times,  massed  in  several  lines  of  battle,  and  charged  nearly 
up  to  the  muzzle  of  our  pieces,  but  was  each  time  driven  back  and  finally 
gave  up  the  attempt  to  take  our  guns.  In  this  engagement,  in  order  to  save 
our  guns,  we  were  obliged  to  overload  them,"  and  so  much  so,  that  we  ruined 
them. 

Four  guns  of  our  battery  were  detailed  to  remain  in  the  rear  under  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Averell  with  his  own  regiment,  the  Third  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  and  one  small  brigade  of  regular  cavalry.  We  remained  on  the  field 
until  some  time  after  noon,  July  2d.  Our  small  rear  guard  was  kept  constantly 
on  the  move  from  one  position  to  another,  there  being  a  heavy  mist  and  we 
were  enabled  to  move  from  one  position  to  another,  unobserved  by  the  enemy. 
In  moving  over  the  low  ground  we  found  in  many  places  the  dead  and 
wounded  so  thick  that  we  were  obliged  to  send  the  cannoneers  in  advance  to 
clear  a  passage  for  the  guns.  The  hardest  part  of  a  battle  is  after  the  fighting  is 
over,  in  being  obliged  to  pass  over  the  field  'and  see  the  fearful  sights  that 
meet  the  view  on  every  hand. 

While  at  Harrison's  Landing,  we  drew  a  new  battery  of  light  twelve-pound 
guns,  our  Parrott  guns  having  been  ruined  by  overloading  as  before  stated. 


1238  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

We  remained  at  Harrison's  Landing  until  the  army  retired,  when  we  fell 
back  with  the  army  to  Fortress  Monroe,  where  we  embarked  on  transports 
for  Alexandria.  We  arrived  there  September  2,  1862,  but  not  in  time  to  be 
engaged  with  Pope's  army,  as  it  fell  back  on  Washington. 

We  crossed  the  Potomac  River  into  Maryland,  September  6th,  passing 
through  Rockville,  Clarksburg,  Frederick  City,  and  Petersville,  Md.,  and  ar- 
riving near  Antietam,  September  i6th. 

September  17th,  the  battery  was  engaged,  together  with  the  rest  of  the 
Second  Army  Corps,  under  General  Sumner.  The  fighting  at  times  during 
the  day  was  desperate  and  some  of  the  time  at  close  quarters,  the  enemy  charg- 
ing our  line;  but  we  held  our  position,  although  the  loss  of  our  troops  was 
heavy. 

September  22d,  we  marched  from  the  battlefield  and  camped  at  Harper's 
Ferry;  September  24th,  crossed  the  Potomac  River  and  camped  on  Bolivar 
Heights;  October  ist,  crossed  the  river  and  took  part  in  General  Hancock's 
reconnoissance  to  Leesburg,  Va.;  October  17th,  took  part  in  General  Han- 
cock's reconnoissance  to  Halltown,  Va.  We  left  camp  on  Bolivar  Heights, 
October  31st,  passing  through  Snickersville,  Upperville,  Salem  and  Warrenton, 
Va.,  and  arrived  near  Falmouth,  Va.,  November  17th.  We  remained  here  until 
December  12th,  when  we  crossed  the  Rappahannock  River  on  pontoon  bridges 
into  Fredericksburg,  losing  2  men  in  crossing,  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  13th  the  battery  was  advanced  and  was  heavily  engaged  with  the 
enemy  in  front  of  the  town  until  our  ammunition  was  expended,  when  we 
retired  and  recrossed  the  river,  December  14th,  arid  took  position  to  cover 
the  crossing  of  our  infantry,  when  we  returned  to  our  old  camp,  where  we 
remained  until  our  army  advanced  on  the  Chancellorsville  campaign. 

January  13,  1863,  Capt.  J.  D.  Frank  left  the  battery,  while  in  this  camp,  on 
sick  leave  and  was  shortly  afterwards  discharged  on  surgeon's  certificate. 
First  Lieut.  Nelson  Ames  was  promoted  to  captain  and  took  command  of 
the  battery. 

We  crossed  the  Rappahannock  River  on  pontoons  at  United  States  Ford, 
April  29,  1863,  and  moved  to  the  front.  We  took  position  in  line  of  battle, 
at  the  right  of  the  Chancellorsville  House,  where  we  were  engaged  more  or 
less  during  the  battle.  While  in  this  position,  the  Eleventh  Army  Corps  re- 
treated and  a  portion  of  it  ran  through  the  battery  with  the  enemy  close  in 
their  rear.  When  our  front  was  clear  of  our  own  men,  we  soon  made  the 
enemy  about  face  by  a  well-directed  fire.  May  5th,  at  night,  we  fell  back  and 
recrossed  the  river  at  United  States  Ford.  We  returned  to  our  old  camp  near 
Falmouth,  where  we  remained  until  May  i8th,  when  we  joined  the  Artillery 
Reserve,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

June  4th,  we  broke  camp  and  started  on  the  Gettysburg  campaign.  We 
crossed  the  Potomac  River  at  Edwards  Ferry  on  pontoon  bridges,  June  24th, 
and  marched  to  the  left  of  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain,  Md.,  and  camped  near 
Frederick  City,  June  28th. 

June  29th,  we  camped  near  Taney  town.  July  ist,  we  camped  near  Harney. 
July  2d,  we  marched  to  a  point  near  Gettysburg  where  we  parked  for  a  short 
time.    The  battery  was  soon  ordered  to  report  to  Major  General  Sickles,  who 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1239 

commanded  the  Third  Army  Corps,  and  as  the  enemy  under  General  Long- 
street  advanced  to  the  attack,  we  were  ordered  by  General  Sickles  to  advance 
and  take  position  on  the  angle  of  our  line  in  the  Peach  Orchard  and  hold  the 
position  at  all  hazard,  as  that  was  the  key  to  that  portion  of  the  line  of  battle. 
We  were  engaged  in  this  position  from  4  to  7  p.  m.,  and  were  supported  by 
General  Graham's  troops  of  the  Third  Corps. 

Our  lines  having  been  broken  both  on  our  right  and  left,  and  being  short 
of  ammunition,  it  was  doubtful  if  we  could  save  our  guns,  but  after  desperate 
fighting  we  were  able  to  save  them,  and  also  brought  off  our  wounded  with  us. 

During  the  night  of  the  2d  we  refilled  our  ammunition  chests  and  refitted 
the  battery  ready  for  action.  July  3d  we  were  in  position  with  the  Second 
Corps  on  the  front  line  of  battle,  and  took  part  in  the  terrible  artillery  duel, 
also  in  repelling  Pickett's  charge,  and  thus  ending  one  of  the  most  fearful 
battles  of  the  war. 

July  4th  we  left  the  battlefield,  with  the  balance  of  the  army,  in  pursuit  of 
the  enemy,  and  finally  came  up  with  them  near  Falling  Waters  on  the  Potomac 
River.  We  went  into  position  July  14th,  but  were  not  engaged,  as  the  enemy 
fell  back  and  crossed  the  Potomac  River  during  the  night.  We  continued 
the  pursuit  and  crossed  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah  Rivers  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  passing  through  Ward's  Grove,  Bloomfield,  Ashby's  Gap,  Peters- 
burg, Macon  Station,  White  Plains,  Manitou  Junction,  and  Elktown,  arrived 
at  Morrisville,  July  31,  1863. 

We  remained  in  camp  near  Morrisville  until  August  31st,  when  we  moved 
to  Banks's  Ford.  We  broke  camp  at  various  times  up  to  October  14th,  when 
the  battery  was  engaged  at  Bristoe  Station,  as  our  army  fell  back  on  Centre- 
ville. 

The  battery  advanced  with  the  army  from  Centreville  and  finally  went  into 
winter  quarters  near  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  where  we  remained  during  the  win- 
ter, drilling  and  preparing  for  the  spring  campaign,  which  all  hoped  would 
close  the  war.  While  in  this  camp  seventy-two  of  the  men  re-enlisted  as 
veteran  volunteers. 

We  broke  camp  on  the  night  of  May  3,  1864,  and  took  up  line  of  march 
with  the  rest  of  the  Second  Army  Corps  for  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.  We 
crossed  the  Rapidan  River  on  pontoon  bridges  and  marched  via  Chancellors- 
ville  to  the  Wilderness,  where  the  battle  was  in  progress,  but  on  account  of 
thick  woods  and  the  nature  of  the  ground  we  were  not  engaged,  as  it  was 
impossible  to  manoeuvre  the  battery  in  such  a  dense  thicket. 

May  8th  we  marched  to  the  left,  with  the  rest  of  the  troops  of  the  corps, 
about  four  miles,  and  went  into  position,  where  we  had  a  pretty  sharp  artil- 
lery fight,  in  which  we  silenced  rhe  enemy's  battery.  May  12th,  at  3  a.  m., 
we  marched  to  the  left  about  five  miles,  and  at  break  of  day  advanced  with 
Barlow's,  Gibbons',  Mott's,  and  Birney's  Divisions,  as  they  charged  the 
enemy's  works  at  the  Bloody  Angle  at  Spotsylvania  Court  House,  and  at  once 
became  hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy  at  close  canister  range.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments, fearing  in  the  smoke  and  fog  we  might  injure  our  own  men,  I  asked 
permission  of  General  Hancock  to  advance  the  battery  to  the  extreme  front, 
which  was  granted.    Reaching  that  position,  we  at  once  engaged  the  enemy. 


1240  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

much  of  the  time  not  fifty  rods  away.  Some  of  the  artillery  of  the  corps  not 
having  reported,  General  Hancock  sent  a  staff  officer  to  me,  asking  if  I  could 
work  some  of  the  twenty-two  guns  we  had  captured  from  the  enemy.  I  in- 
formed him  I  could  if  he  would  give  me  some  infantry  to  take  the  place  of 
the  drivers  and  aid  in  bringing  up  ammunition.  He  readily  gave  us  all  the 
men  we  wanted,  and  from  then  on  we  fought  not  only  our  own  six  guns,  but 
also  nine  of  the  enemy's,  using  the  enemy's  ammunition.  It  seemed  to  madden 
the  enemy  to  desperation  to  be  thus  slaughtered  by  their  own  guns  and  am- 
munition. Charge  after  charge  was  made  by  the  Confederates  to  retake  the 
position  and  guns  they  had  lost,  but  our  men  stood  firm  as  a  rock,  determined 
to  hold  the  position  or  die  in  the  attempt.  Thus  the  battle  was  fought  from 
4  o'clock,  a.  m..  May  I2th,  to  3  o'clock,  a.  m..  May  13th,  when  the  enemy  re- 
linquished the  attempt  to  retake  the  position  and  fell  back  to  a  new  line  in 
their  rear. 

But  what  a  sight  met  our  eyes!  The  dead  lay  in  piles.  Trees  sixteen  inches 
in  diameter  were  cut  off  by  musket  balls  and  canister.  Of  the  infantry  that 
helped  work  the  guns,  several  were  killed  and  wounded;  and  I  regret  that 
I  am  unable  to  give  their  names  or  regiments.  We  brought  off  from  the 
field   our  own  guns  as  well  as  nine  captured  from  the  enemy. 

May  14th,  we  were  engaged  on  the  same  ground,  but  were  unable  to  drive 
the  enemy  from  their  position.  May  17th  we  were  engaged  again  in  attempt- 
ing to  carry  the  position  the  enemy  had  fallen  back  to  on  the  12th  inst.  May 
2 1st  we  marched  to  the  left,  passing  through  Bowling  Green  and  Milford 
Station.  May  23d  marched  to  where  the  railroad  crosses  the  North  Anna 
River.  May  24th  we  were  engaged  covering  the  bridge  over  which  our  in- 
fantry crossed.  May  26th  we  were  engaged  again  with  the  rest  of  the  troops 
of  the  corps.  May  30th  we  were  engaged  at  Totopotomoy  Creek  in  pretty 
sharp  fighting.  June  ist  we  arrived  at  Cold  Harbor  and  took  position  in  line 
of  battle,  and  were  engaged  more  or  less  each  day;  some  of  the  time  very 
heavy  fighting,  but  being  well  protected  by  earthworks  our  loss  was  light. 

We  remained  here  until  June  12th  when  we  withdrew  from  the  works  and 
marched  to  the  left,  crossed  the  Chickahominy  River  and  arrived  at  Wilson's 
Landing  on  the  James  River  on  the  night  of  June  13th. 

June  15th  we  crossed  the  James  River  on  pontoon  bridges.  June  i6th 
marched  with  the  rest  of  the  Second  Army  Corps  and  arrived  before  Peters- 
burg, Va.,  at  7  o'clock,  p.  m.,  and  were  engaged  until  10  p.  m.  July  i6th  to 
July  25th,  we  were  engaged  more  or  less  in  front  of  Petersburg.  July  26th 
marched  from  in  front  of  Petersburg  to  Jones'  Landing  on  the  James  River 
and  were  engaged  with  the  rest  of  the  corps.  July  29th  we  marched  from  the 
north  side  of  James  River  to  front  of  Petersburg,  where  we  were  held  in 
reserve  just  in  time  to  see  Burnside's  great  mine  exploded.  Horses,  cannon, 
and  men  were  hurled  hundreds  of  feet  into  the  air,  a  sight  once  seen  never 
to  be  forgotten.  August  12th  we  marched  to  near  Bermuda  Landing.  August 
13th  we  marched  to  Deep  Bottom  and  crossed  the  James  River.  We  were 
engaged  here  and  returned  to  near  Petersburg  on  the  19th.  August  24th  we 
were  engaged  in  front  of  Petersburg.  We  were  engaged  more  or  less  during 
the  balance  of  August  and  September,  in  front  of  Petersburg,  first  on  one 


New  York  at  Gettysburg  1241 

flank  then  on  some  other  portion  of  our  Une,  until  we  were  called  "  Hancock's 
Cavalry." 

September  27th  twenty-seven  of  the  old  men  of  the  battery  were  discharged, 
as  their  term  of  service,  three  years,  had  expired.  October  15th  Capt.  Nelson 
Ames  was  discharged,  as  his  term  of  service,  three  years,  had  expired. 

First  Lieut.  S.  A.  McClellan  was  promoted  to  captain  and  took  command 
of  the  battery  and  remained  in  command  until  the  battery  was  mustered  out. 

From  October,  1864,  to  April  9,  1865,  when  Lee  surrendered  his  army  to 
Grant,  the  battery  was  engaged  more  or  less,  being  most  of  the  time  stationed 
in  the  works  before  Petersburg. 

May  5,  1865,  it  broke  camp  near  Jones'  Farm,  eight  miles  from  Richmond, 
and  marched  through  the  city  of  Richmond,  and  the  following  places  on  its 
way  to  Washington:  Harvard  Court  House;  crossed  the  Pamunkey  River 
and  marched  through  Bowling  Green;  Fredericksburg,  Aquia  Creek,  Wake- 
field and  Annandale,  and  camped  near  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  battery  remained  in  camp  until  the  Grand  Review  of  the  Army,  and  then 
turned  the  battery,  horses  and  quartermaster's  stores  over  to  the  proper  officers. 

June  6,  1865,  the  boys  took  the  cars  for  Elmira,  N.  Y.,  where  the  battery 
remained  until  June  19th,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  United  States 
service. 

The  battery  was  engaged  with  the  enemy  in  every  battle  the  Second  Army 
Corps  participated  in  during  the  war,  as  shown  by  the  company  records. 
We  had  11  officers  and  men  killed,  31  men  wounded,  and  15  died  of  disease, 
a  total  loss  of  57  officers  and  men.  Capt.  Nelson  Ames  and  Lieut.  S.  A.  Mc- 
Clellan were  also  wounded  during  the  terms  of  their  service. 

Battery  G  was  never  driven  by  the  enemy's  fire  from  a  position  it  was  ordered 
to  hold,  never  fell  back  until  ordered,  and  never  lost  a  gun  or  carriage  of  any 
kind  during  its  term  of  service. 


1242  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

BATTERY  I,  FIRST  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  LIGHT  ARTILLERY 

CAPTAIN  M.  WIEDRICH  COMMANDING 

2d  division,  11th  CORPS 

July  i,  2,  &  3,  1863 

(Reverse.) 

Casualties 

3  Killed,  10  Wounded 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1243 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT, 

BATTERY  I  —  "WIEDRICH'S  " 
FIRST  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

May  20,  1889. 

Address  by  Cyrus  K.  Remington. 
Friends  and  Comrades: 

We  assemble  here  to-day  from  distant  portions  of  this  great  country  to 
dedicate  the  monument  erected  by  a  generous  State  to  the  memory  of  those 
who  contended  for  a  great  principle. 

The  silent  witnesses  which  we  behold  around  us,  resting  upon  the  places 
cemented  by  the  life-blood  of  over  5,000  sons  of  the  Empire  State,  and  more 
than  15,000  in  addition  from  other  loyal  States  of  the  Union,  tell  eloquently 
of  the  gratitude  of  a  reunited  people  and  of  the  obligations  due  from  them 
to  true  heroism. 

Here,  to-day,  in  the  name  of  freedom  and  equality  we  give  thanks  for  the 
inestimable  privileges  enjoyed  by  us  as  a  nation. 

Comrades,  twenty-six  years  ago  you  stood  upon  this  hill,  this  very  spot, 
to  repel  an  enemy  who  was  seeking  to  destroy  this  Union  —  brother  against 
brother,  a  fratricidal  contest.  Those  who  yielded  up  their  lives  rest  peacefully 
here.  Well  may  we  envy  them  their  glory,  for  it  is  imperishable,  and  their 
memory  shall  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance. 

No  Caesar  returning  from  his  conquests  could  have  vied  with  you,  for  in 
after  years  the  nation  will  say  of  you, —  "  He  was  at  Gettysburg,"  and  your 
badges  will  become  more  honored  and  cherished  as  the  years  roll  by. 

Comrades,  I  have  an  interest  in  this  victorious  army.  My  only  brother 
was  the  adjutant  of  the  Third  Michigan  Infantry,  and  in  that  division  which 
successfully  opposed  the  famous  charge  of  General  Pickett. 

A  recital  of  your  gallant  deeds  has  lately  been  given  through  the  press. 
Let  me  briefly  recount  it: 

Your  baptism  of  fire  was  at  Cross  Keys;  then  you  fought  at  Waterloo  Bridge, 
the  Second  Bull  Run,  Chancellorsville,  and  at  this  place;  and  were  in  that 
desperate  fight  with  General  Early,  who  had  sworn  that  he  would  take  and 
hold  these  hills.  Did  he  with  his  "  Louisiana  Tigers  "  accomplish  the  feat? 
And  after  the  guns  were  so  heated  by  rapid  firing  that  you  were  unable  to 
use  them,  what  did  you  do?  Run  away?  No;  you  stood  your  ground,  beat- 
ing back  the  foe  with  ramrods  and  whatever  came  to  hand  —  a  not  very 
artistic  style  of  fighting,  but  effectual.  These  same  men  you  had  met  at 
Chancellorsville  a  short  time  previous,  and  after  this  repulse  they  were  heard 
to  say  that  you  must  have  been  the  same  Dutchmen  of  the  Eleventh  Corps 
that  they  had  encountered  at  that  place. 

Do  you  recall  the  "  Battle  in  the  Clouds,"  upon  Lookout  Mountain?  At 
Allatoona,  where  General  Corse,  with  a  few  gallant  men,  held  at  bay  a  large 
force  of  the  enemy, —  where  General  Sherman,  hearing  of  the  situation,  said: 


1244  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

"If  General  Corse  is  in  command  he  will  hold  it  —  I  know  the  man;"  and 
immediately  signaled  him  to  "  Hold  the  Fort."  From  Lookout  Mountain,  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  Ackworth  Station,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
Millen,  Savannah,  Fayetteville,  Bentonville,  Goldsboro,  and  Raleigh, —  through 
plains  and  swamps,  across  streams  and  over  mountains,  you  followed  your 
great  leader  to  the  finish. 

All  honor  to  you  and  all  soldiers  of  the  Union.  Providence  has  generously 
lengthened  your  days  that  you  might  behold  this  joyous  occasion.  You  now 
hear  no  roar  of  hostile  cannon  or  call  to  repeated  assaults,  see  no  mixed 
volumes  of  smoke  or  flame,  no  dead  or  dying.  All  these  you  have  witnessed, 
and  now  a  company  of  sincere  friends  greet  you  and  thank  you  in  the  name 
of  liberty  for  these  heroic  deeds. 

In  the  past  ages  of  the  world's  history,  the  admiration  of  the  people  for 
their  military  heroes  has  sought  expression  in  costly  monuments.  Now  the 
disposition  is  to  commemorate  the  virtues  and  services  of  its  citizen  soldiery, 
upon  whom  the  brunt  and  burden  of  our  Civil  War  mainly  fell.  The  corner- 
stone of  that  fabric  which  the  leaders  of  the  Rebellion  sought  to  erect  on 
human  bondage  is  forever  crushed,  and  bright  days  of  a  glorious  future  are 
before  us  to  make  us  a  happy  Nation.  These  columns  will  turn  to  dust,  time 
will  with  its  finger  erase  all  impress  from  this  crumbling  stone,  but  the  fame 
of  those  heroes  will  remain  evermore. 

Comrades,  it  would  have  befitted  the  occasion  had  you  been  permitted  to 
have  with  you  the  colors  you  carried  in  that  campaign;  but  their  custodian, 
the  State  of  New  York,  has  so  honored  them,  that  by  an  act  passed  by  the 
Legislature,  it  took  charge  of  them.  To  insure  their  safety,  a  clause  was  in- 
serted which  forbids  their  ever  leaving  its  custody.  Thus,  in  honoring  your 
banner,  they  honor  you.  To-day  a  duplicate  of  it  waves  over  this  impressive 
sctoe. 

The  dedication  of  the  National  Cemetery  here  took  place  November,  1863, 
and,  after  an  eloquent  oration  by  the  Hon.  Edward  Everett,  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, then  President  of  these  United  States,  spoke  as  follows :  "  Four-score 
and  seven  years  ago  our  fathers  brought  forth  on  this  continent  a  new  nation, 
conceived  in  liberty,  and  dedicated  to  the  proposition  that  all  men  are  created 
equal.  Now  we  are  engaged  in  a  great  civil  war,  testing  whether  that  nation, 
or  any  nation  so  conceived  and  so  dedicated,  can  long  endure.  We  are  met 
on  a  great  battlefield  of  that  war.  We  have  come  to  dedicate  a  portion  of 
that  field  as  a  final  resting-place  for  those  who  here  gave  their  lives  that  the 
Nation  might  live.  It  is  altogether  fitting  and  proper  that  we  should  do  this. 
But  in  a  larger  sense  we  cannot  dedicate,  we  cannot  consecrate,  we  cannot 
hallow  this  ground.  The  brave  men,  living  and  dead,  who  struggled  here, 
have  consecrated  it  far  above  our  poor  power  to  add  or  detract.  The  world 
will  little  note,  nor  long  remember,  what  we  say  here,  but  it  can  never  forget 
what  they  did  here.  It  is  for  us,  the  living,  rather  to  be  dedicated  here  to  the 
unfinished  work  which  they  who  fought  here  have  thus  far  nobly  advanced. 
It  is  rather  for  us  to  be  here  dedicated  to  the  great  task  remaining  before  us, — 
that  from  these  honored  dead  we  take  increased  devotion  to  that  cause  for 
which  they  gave  the  last  full  measure  of  devotion,  that  we  here  highly  resolve 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1245 

that  these  dead  shall  not  have  died  in  vain,  that  this  Nation,  under  God,  shall 
have  a  new  birth  of  freedom,  and  that  government  of  the  people,  by  the  people, 
and  for  the  people,  shall  not  perish  from  the  earth." 

For  me  to  add  to  these  immortal  words  would  be  presumptuous;  but  I  can 
urge  all  true  patriots  to  treasure  up  in  their  hearts  the  noble  sentiments  con- 
tained therein. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 
By  Sergt.  Frederick  Smith. 

Battery  "  I,"  First  New  York  Light  Artillery,  better  known  as  "  Wiedrich's 
Battery "  during  the  war,  was  originally  a  militia  battery,  attached  to  the 
Sixty-fifth  Regiment,  New  York  State  Militia,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  was  com- 
posed of  German  Americans. 

On  January  18,  1861,  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  arsenal,  it  was  unanimously 
resolved  to  offer  their  services  to  the  governor  of  the  state.  Such  resolutions 
were  sent,  and  in  due  course  of  time  the  following  reply  was  received: 

"  State  of  New  York,  Adj't  Gen.'s  Office, 
"  Albany,  January  21,  1861. 
"  Captain  Wiedrich,  6sth  Regiment: 

"  Sir. —  The  Commander-in-Chief  directs  me  to  thank  you  and  your  com- 
mand for  the  tender  of  their  services  to  aid  in  enforcing  the  laws  and  protect- 
ing the  Union.  Your  letter  of  the  19th  inst.  informing  him  of  such  tender, 
by  unanimous  vote  of  the  company,  will  be  placed  on  file,  to  be  referred  to 
if  the  services  of  the  military  of  the  State  should  be  required  for  that  purpose. 

"  Yours,  etc., 

"  D.  CAMPBELL, 

"  A.  A.  General." 

During  the  following  months  the  men  were  actively  engaged  in  perfecting 
their  organization,  recruiting,  and  drill;  but  it  was  not  until  August  21st  that 
the  general  government  sanctioned  their  request  to  be  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  General  Fremont,  then  in  Missouri.  Col.  William  P.  Carlin,  of  the 
regular  army,  formerly  stationed  at  Buffalo,  and  at  that  time  in  command  at 
Pilot  Knob,  Mo.,  hearing  of  the  decision,  and  knowing  Captain  Wiedrich  well, 
forwarded  an  urgent  request  that  the  battery  be  sent  to  him.  This  was,  how- 
ever, not  to  be,  as  on  the  25th  of  October  an  imperative  order  was  received 
from  Albany  to  report  immediately  to  Adjutant  General  Hillhouse  at  that 
place;  and  within  twenty-four  hours  after  the  order  had  been  received  the 
battery  was  well  on  its  way  to  the  Capital. 

On'  November  15th  the  battery  left  Albany,  N.  Y.,  for  Washington,  where 
it  was  attached  to  General  Blenker's  Division,  remaining  in  camp  during  part 
of  the  winter  at  that  place,  and  later,  at  Hunter's  Chapel,  Va. 

Their  "  baptism  of  fire  "  was  at  Cross  Keys,  June  8, 1862,  with  the  "  Louisiana 
Tigers,"  where  they,  the  battery,  suffered  a  loss  of  3  killed  and  6  wounded; 


1246  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

thence  to  Waterloo  Bridge,  August  22d,  where  they  lost  I  killed  and  3 
wounded.  They  were  also  engaged  at  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Warrenton, 
and  other  places,  in  General  Pope's  campaign,  without  serious  loss,  and  on 
August  30th  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  they  sustained  a  loss  of  15 
wounded,  including  Lieutenant  Schenkelberger,  who  lost  a  leg  by  a  fragment 
of  shell.  In  this  engagement  the  battery  was  almost  entirely  disabled,  one 
gun  only  of  the  six  being  fit  for  duty.  Some  of  the  limbers  and  caissons  had 
to  be  left  on  the  field;  but,  by  desperate  exertion,  the  disabled  guns  were 
rescued.  The  company  was  now  so  completely  used  up,  through  sickness  and 
losses  in  battle,  as  to  necessitate  their  returning  to  Washington  for  recupera- 
tion and  new  outfit.  During  the  time  General  Pope  had  command  of  the  Army 
of  Virginia,  the  battery  was  in  General  Sigel's  corps. 

The  battery  received  a  new  outfit  of  six  three-inch  Rodman  rifled  guns, 
and  a  squad  of  forty  recruits.  It  was  encamped  on  the  heights  opposite  Wash- 
ington, where  it  remained  during  General  McClellan's  Antietam  campaign, 
assisting  in  guarding  the  approaches  to  the  Capital.  It  did  not  take  any  active 
part  in  General  Burnside's  campaign  against  Fredericksburg,  being  with  the  re- 
serves under  General  Sigel.  At  the  time  of  the  battle,  December  13,  1862,  it 
was  in  the  vicinity  of  Stafford  Court  House.  It  remained  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Falmouth  during  the  reorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
by  General  Hooker,  when  it  was  placed  in  the  Eleventh  Corps,  under  Gen. 
O.  O.  Howard,  in  the  Second  Division,  under  General  von  Steinwehr. 

On  May  2,  1863,  the  battery  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville, 
having  4  men  killed  and  10  wounded,  being  compelled  to  leave  two  of  the 
guns  on  that  field,  all  the  horses  of  one  gun  being  shot,  and  nearly  all  the 
men  on  the  other  wounded. 

The  battery  was  refitted  near  Brooke's  Station,  Va.,  where  it  received  the 
three-year  men  from  the  Second  New  York  Independent  Battery,  the  term 
3f  enlistment  of  the  majority  of  the  men  of  the  latter  battery  having  expired, 
t  being  a  two-years'  organization.  On  June  12,  1863,  it  left  camp  at  Brooke's 
Station,  and  started  on  the  march  for  the  campaign  which  ended  at  Gettys- 
burg. 

In  the  morning  of  July  ist,  the  battery  left  its  camp  at  Emmitsburg,  Md., 
taking  the  road  which  led  to  Gettysburg,  called  the  Emmitsburg  Road.  The 
morning  was  beautiful  and  warm ;  cherries  were  ripe,  and  the  men  picked  them 
as  they  went  along.  At  about  noon  the  bugle  sounded,  "  Cannoneers  mount!  " 
This  had  been  expected  for  some  time,  and  created  no  surprise,  for  shell  had 
been  seen  exploding  in  the  distance  for  some  time;  but  not  a  sound  could  be 
heard,  either  of  artillery  or  bursting  shell.  "Trot"  and  "Gallop"  was 
sounded,  and  off  they  went  towards  the  smoke  and  exploding  shell,  which 
seemed  to  be  three  or  four  miles  distant.  When  nearing  the  town  of  Gettys- 
burg, the  battery  cut  across  the  field  near  the  junction  of  the  Emmitsburg  and 
Baltimore  Roads  at  a  gallop,  up  the  hill  on  the  latter  road,  and  took  the  posi- 
tion on  East  Cemetery  Hill  which  they  held  through  the  three  days'  battle. 

As  the  battery  was  cutting  across  the  angle  formed  by  the  two  roads  above 
mentioned,  part  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  could  be  seen  coming  through  the  town 
on  the  retreat.  Dilger's  Ohio  Battery  was  coming  up  Baltimore  street  in 
column  of  pieces,  with  prolonge  rope  fixed  for  firing  in  retreat. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1247 

A  few  incidents  of  this  first  day  may  be  worth  relating.  When  the  battery 
took  the  position  on  East  Cemetery  Hill,  General  Howard  was  there,  and, 
addressing  himself  to  the  men  said,  "  Boys,  I  want  you  to  hold  this  position 
at  all  hazards.  Can  you  do  it?"  When  a  chorus  responded,  "  Yes,  sir."  Just 
then  a  shell  from  a  Rebel  battery  came  screeching  over  the  hill,  and,  as  was 
natural,  and  from  force  of  habit,  some  of  the  men  ducked  their  heads.  General 
Howard,  noticing  it,  exclaimed :  "  Don't  be  alarmed,  boys,  that  was  an  ele- 
vated shot,  fired  at  random."  That  Rebel  battery  was  soon  silenced,  and  then 
the  firing  was  directed  at  some  masses  of  troops  in  the  distance,  towards  the 
York  Road,  which  were  evidently  part  of  Ewell's  Corps,  when  a  man  on  horse- 
back, who  appeared  to  be  a  courier  or  stafif  officer,  rode  up  to  the  officers  of 
the  battery,  and  ordered  them  to  cease  firing,  that  the  troops  in  the  distance 
were  our  own  men,  and  that  the  shells  were  doing  much  execution.  The  order 
came,  "  Cease  firing,"  but  was  resumed  after  a  few  minutes.  It  looked  very 
suspicious  to  the  men  of  the  battery,  and  a  good  deal  of  grumbling  was  done, 
for  it  was  thought  that  the  rider  was  a  Rebel  who  came  through  the  Unes 
during  the  retreat  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  through  the  town. 

The  men  now  commenced  to  fortify  the  position  by  building  redans  or 
lunettes  for  each  gun,  to  protect  themselves  against  the  Rebel  sharpshooters, 
who  were  posted  in  a  steeple  in  the  town. 

Orders  also  came  towards  night  for  one  section  to  take  a  new  position  west 
of  the  Cemetery.  Lieut.  Christopher  Schmidt,  with  the  left  section,  was  or- 
dered there,  where  he  remained  to  the  end  of  the  three  days'  contest,  taking 
part  in  the  great  artillery  duel  on  the  3d,  and  assisting  in  repelling  Pickett's 
charge  the  same  day. 

On  the  2d,  in  the  evening,  when  Ewell  made  his  attack  on  the  right,  the 
battery  was  for  the  second  time  attacked  by  the  "  Louisiana  Tigers,"  of  Hays' 
Brigade,  Early's  Division;  but  this  time  they  were  nearly  annihilated,  and 
were  but  little  known  as  an  organization  thereafter.  About  9  o'clock,  p.  m., 
they  made  a  desperate  assault  on  this  position.  It  was  so  sudden  and  violent 
that  the  infantry  in  front  gave  way,  and  the  enemy  got  within  the  battery; 
but  only  for  a  moment,  for  assistance  was  at  hand,  and  the  cannoneers,  using 
sponge-staffs,  handspikes,  and  stones,  forced  them  back,  following  it  up  with 
doses  of  canister.  One  Rebel  planted  his  colors  on  one  of  the  lunettes  of  the 
first  section  (which  was  on  the  left),  and  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  gun. 
He  was  promptly  knocked  down  with  a  handspike,  and  the  flag  captured. 

The  sharpshooters  in  the  church  steeple  were  very  annoying,  having  wounded 
several  of  the  men  and  two  of  the  officers,  viz.,  Lieuts.  Nicholas  Sahm  and 
Christian  Stock,  and  killed  some  of  the  horses.  The  gunner  of  the  third 
piece,  notwithstanding  the  orders  not  to  fire  into  the  town,  loaded  his  gun 
with  a  shell  and  fired  it  at  the  steeple;  it  had  the  desired  effect. 

On  the  3d,  during  the  great  artillery  duel,  Wiedrich's  men,  assisted  by  a 
Pennsylvania  battery  on  their  right,  silenced  a  Rebel  battery,  posted  on  a 
hill  near  the  Bonaughtown  Road,  about  1,800  yards  distant.  A  shell  from 
this  Rebel  battery  exploded  over  the  horses  of  the  limber  of  the  fourth  gun. 
The  horses  became  frightened,  and  started  off  on  a  gallop  down  the  Pike, 
through  our  pickets  and  into  the  Rebel  lines. 


1248  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  casualties  of  the  battery  for  the  three  days  were  3  killed  and  9  wounded. 
Of  the  latter,  2  were  officers. 

On  the  5th,  in  the  evening,  the  battery  left  with  the  rest  of  the  army,  in 
pursuit  of  Lee. 

From  their  camp  at  Catlett's  Station,  Va.,  in  September,  1863,  the  battery 
was  sent  to  the  west,  with  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps,  to  the  relief  of 
General  Rosecrans  at  Chattanooga.  It  took  part  in  opening  the  "  cracker 
line"  for  Rosecrans,  and  was  engaged  at  Wauhatchie,  Lookout  Mountain, 
Missionary  Ridge,  and  all  the  important  battles  of  the  Atlanta  campaign, — 
then  in  the  Twentieth  Corps,— and  particularly  distinguished  itself  at  Kolb's 
Farm  and  Peach  Tree  Creek.  At  Kolb's  Farm,  June  22,  1864,  unsupported 
by  infantry,  it  assisted  the  other  batteries  of  the  corps  in  repelling  an  attack 
by  the  Rebel  General  Hood;  also,  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  July  20,  1864,  where 
the  enemy  made  six  successive  and  desperate  assaults  on  its  position,  without 
success. 

It  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  and  entered  that  city  with  the  Twentieth 
Corps.  It  participated  in  Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea,  where  little  fighting 
was  done,  but  much  foraging.  Two  of  its  members  were  killed  by  bush- 
whackers while  out  foraging. 

When  Sherman's  army  invested  Savannah,  the  battery  held  a  position  on 
the  banks  of  the  Savannah  River,  where  it  engaged  a  Rebel  gunboat  and  two 
tenders  which  came  down  the  river  from  Augusta.  The  gunboat  and  one 
tender  was  disabled  by  shot,  and  was  captured. 

The  battery  entered  the  city  with  the  Twentieth  Corps,  and  was  encamped 
there  until  the  campaign  of  the  Carolinas  opened,  in  which  it  took  part.  It 
was  engaged  at  Averasborough  and  Bentonville,  and  was  at  Raleigh,  N.  C, 
when  the  news  of  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln  and  the  surrender  of 
Lee  was  received. 

Besides  the  battles  mentioned  in  this  account,  the  battery  took  part  in  in- 
numerable small  affairs  and  skirmishes  in  each  of  which  the  loss  was  small, 
but  the  aggregate  in  wounded  was  large.  It  took  part  in  the  Grand  Review 
at  Washington,  D.  C,  in  May,  1865,  and  on  June  23,  1865,  it  was  mustered  out 
of  service  at  Fort  Porter,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  after  a  service  of  nearly  four  years. 

In  March,  1864,  when  the  battery  was  in  Lookout  Valley,  Tenn.,  Captain 
Wiedrich  resigned  to  take  command  of  the  Fifteenth  New  York  Regiment 
of  Heavy  Artillery.  First  Lieut.  Nicholas  Sahm  was  promoted  captain,  but 
died  a  month  later.  First  Lieut.  Christopher  Schmidt  resigned  about  the  same 
time.  Charles  E.  Winegar,  first  lieutenant  of  Battery  "  M,"  First  New  York 
Light  Artillery,  was  promoted  captain  of  Battery  "  I,"  and  the  following  were 
at  different  times  lieutenants: 

Nicholas  Sahm,  Diedrick  Erdman,  Christopher  Schmidt,  Jacob  Schenkel- 
berger,  Christian  Stock,  Francis  Henchen,  George  F.  Schwartz,  Edward  P. 
Newkirk,  Warren  L.  Scott,  Joseph  W.  Adle,  George  W.  Freeman,  and  one 
or  two  others  whose  names  cannot  be  recalled  at  present. 

The  losses  of  the  battery  during  its  term  of  service  were:  Killed  and  died 
of  wounds,  I  officer  and  16  men;  died  of  disease,  i  officer  and  17  men;  total,  35. 
This  loss  is  larger  by  5  than  that  of  any  other  battery  of  the  First  New  York 
Eight  Artillery.    No  record  has  been  kept  of  the  wounded. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1249 

(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

battery  k 
1st  n  y  light  artillery 

(iiTH  New  York  Ind.  Battery  attached) 

ARTILLERY  RESERVE 

(Reverse.) 

Battery  K  (Fitzhugh's) 

held  this  position 
July  3,  1863,  and  assisted 

IN  REPELLING  PiCKETT's   ChARGE 

Casualties,  wounded  7. 

Organized  at  Fort  Plain,  N.  Y. 

Mustered  in  Oct.  10,  1861 


Principal  Engagments 

Bolivar  Heights 

Beverly  Ford 

Rappahannock  Station 

Chancellorsville 

Gettysburg 

Mine  Run. 

'  Mustered  out  June  20,  1865 
79 


1250  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

BATTERY  K  —  "  FITZHUGH'S  " 

FIRST  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

July  2,  1888. 

Historical  Sketch. 

This  battery  was  recruited  at  Fort  Plain,  Montgomery  County,  and  for 
awhile  was  known  as  the  "  Fort  Plain  Battery."  Recruits  were  also  received 
from  Canandaigua,  and  from  Jasper,  a  village  in  Steuben  County.  The  com- 
pany rendezvoused  at  the  Albany  Barracks,  and  upon  the  organization  of  the 
First  Regiment,  New  York  Light  Artillery,  it  joined  that  command,  receiv- 
ing the  designation  of  Battery  K.  Lorenzo  Crounse  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain, and  the  company  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service,  November 
20,  1861,  at  Albany.  Leaving  the  State  in  November  it  proceeded  to  Wash- 
ington where  it  went  into  a  camp  of  instruction  near  the  Capitol,  remaining 
there  until  spring,  when  it  was  ordered  to  the  front.  It  proceeded  to  Harper's 
Ferry,  Va.,  in  April,  1862,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  the  Shenandoah  cam- 
paign of  that  spring. 

The  battery  was  assigned  to  Banks'  Corps  of  General  Pope's  army,  with 
which  it  participated  in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  August  9,  1862.  Banks' 
Corps  became  the  Twelfth  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  Battery  K 
was  assigned  to  Williams'  (First)  Division.  Captain  Crounse  resigned  Sep- 
tember 9,  1862,  and  Lieut.  Robert  H.  Fitzhugh  was  commissioned  by  Gov- 
ernor Morgan  to  fill  the  vacancy.  The  armament  of  the  battery  at  this  time 
consisted  of  four  three-inch  rifled  cannon. 

On  April  29,  1863,  the  Twelfth  Corps,  with  its  artillery,  left  the  camps  at 
Stafford  Court  House,  and  started  for  the  field  of  Chancellorsville.  Captain 
Fitzhugh  was  in  command  of  the  Artillery  Brigade  belonging  to  Williams' 
Division,  leaving  Battery  K  under  the  immediate  command  of  Lieut.  Edward 
L.  Bailey.  Under  his  direction  the  four  guns  did  good  service  from  their  posi- 
tion near  the  Chancellorsville  House.  Captain  Fitzhugh,  in  his  official  report, 
speaks  of  Lieutenants  Bailey  and  Davis  as  deserving  great  credit  for  their 
gallant  bearing  under  a  severe  fire,  and  the  excellent  judgment  displayed  by 
them  in  the  management  of  their  respective  sections.  He  also  makes  favor- 
able mention  of  the  good  conduct  displayed  by  Sergeants  Keller,  Duane,  and 
Mosher,  and  Corporals  Pitts,  Fairbanks,  Evans,  and  Miller.  In  this  battle 
the  battery  sustained  a  loss  of  seven  men  wounded. 

At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  the  battery  was  in  the  Reserve  Artillery  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  the  Fourth  Brigade,  which  was  commanded  by 
Captain  Fitzhugh.  Prior  to  the  battle,  the  men  of  the  Eleventh  New  York 
Independent  Battery  were  attached  temporarily  to  Battery  K,  and  two  more 
guns  —  three-inch  rifles  —  were  added  to  the  equipment.  During  the  first  two 
days  of  the  battle  the  men  were  not  actively  engaged,  bjit  on  the  third  day  the 
battery  went  into  position,  with  the  horses  on  the  gallop,  at  the  angle,  in  Han- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1251 

cock's  line,  where  the  guns  did  good  service  in  assisting  to  repel  Pickett's 
charge.    Seven  men  were  wounded  during  the  battle. 

The  important  services  rendered  by  Battery  K  at  Gettysburg  are  well 
described  in  the  official  report  of  Captain  Fitzhugh,  from  which  the  following 
extract  is  made: 

"Arriving  on  the  field  from  Taneytown  about  8  A.  M.,  July  second,  I  was 
ordered  to  take  two  batteries  (K,  First  New  York  Artillery,  and  A,  First  New 
Jersey  Artillery)  and  go  into  position  on  the  Baltimore  turnpike,  near  General 
Slocum's  line. 

"  The  two  batteries  left  with  me  remained  unengaged  until  i  P.  M.,  of  Friday, 
July  third,  when  by  order  of  General  Hunt,  I  put  them  in  position  near  the 
stone  fence  in  front  of  General  Webb's  division  of  the  Second  Corps,  Battery 
A,  First  New  Jersey  Artillery,  on  the  left  of  K,  First  New  York  Artillery. 

"  At  this  time  the  enemy  were  making  a  strong  eiifort  to  break  the  Second 
Corps  line,  their  infantry  having  charged  up  to  the  stone  fence  near  a  small 
wooded  knoll  about  75  yards  on  my  right,  while  their  artillery  fire  swept 
the  ground  occupied  by  the  two  batteries.  Just  then  there  were  no  other 
batteries  at  that  point  and  there  seemed  to  be  a  good  deal  of  confusion.  The 
rebel  artillery  fire,  from  near  a  house  and  barn  about  1,000  yards  on  my  left 
and  front,  was  especially  severe,  but  soon  materially  slackened,  and  became 
very  wild  under  a  fire  of  percussion  and  time  shell  from  Battery  K.  In  the 
meantime.  Lieutenant  Parsons  poured  about  forty  rounds  of  shrapnel  into  the 
flank  of  the  rebel  infantry  charging  the  Second  Corps,  and  in  about  half  or 
three-quarters  of  an  hour  the  enemy  abandoned  the  attack  on  that  point 
altogether. 

"After  a  pause  of  about  an  hour,  the  rebel  infantry  began  forming  on  the 
right  of  the  house  and  barn  before  spoken  of,  while  from  the  same  quarter  their 
artillery  opened  upon  us  a  brisk  but  poorly  directed  and  inefficient  fire,  to 
which,  by  direction  of  General  Hunt,  I  made  no  reply,  but  awaited  the  attack 
of  their  infantry,  who  soon  charged  over  the  open  field  toward  some  broken 
ground  about  500  yards  on  my  left,  as  they  did  so  giving  the  two  batteries  an 
opportunity  to  pour  in  an  enfilading  fire,  which  they  did  with  great  effect,  for 
the  enemy  did  not  reach  the  point,  but  broke  and  gave  way  in  all  directions 
when  about  the  middle  of  the  field. 

"  After  this  we  remained  in  position  on  the  same  ground  until  about  10 
A.  M.,  July  fifth,  when  I  was  ordered  to  join  the  Artillery  Reserve.  Of  the 
conduct  of  officers  and  men,  I  cannot  speak  too  highly.  Coming  into  position 
at  a  crtitical  point  of  the  rebel  charge  on  our  centre,  and  under  a  galling  fire, 
the  guns  were  worked  with  great  deliberation  and  a  most  decided  effect.  Casu- 
alties in  Battery  K:  Wounded,  7;  loss  in  horses,  5.  Ammunition  expended: 
Percussion  shell,  57;  shrapnel,  15;  and  time  shell,  17;  total,  89." 

Captain  Fitzhugh  was  promoted  to  be  major  of  the  First  Artillery,  Septem- 
ber 7,  1863,  and  Solon  W.  Stocking  succeeded  to  the  captaincy.  After  serving 
in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  until  March,  1864,  Battery  K  was  stationed  in 
the  defences  of  Washington,  where  it  formed  part  of  the  Twenty-second  Corps. 
It  remained  there  until  the  close  of  the  war.  It  was  mustered  out  of  service 
June  20,  1865,  at  Elm'ira,  N.  Y. 


12^2  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

" REYNOLDS " 
BATTERY  L,  ARTILLERY 

1st  N.  Y.  LIGHT  BRIGADE. 

ARTILLERY.  1st  CORPS. 

(Reverse.) 

Casualties 

July  i,  1863 

Near  Chambersburg  Pike 

I  Killed 

15  Wounded 

I  Missing 

July  2  and  3  engaged  with  enemy 

FROM   position    ON    CeMETERY    HiLL. 

Organized  at  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Sept.  17,  1861 

Mustered  out  June  17,  1805 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1253 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

BATTERY  L  — "REYNOLDS" 

FIRST  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

September  vj,  1889. 

Oration  of  Gen.  John  A.  Reynolds. 
Comrades: 

We  have  assembled  to  accept  and  dedicate  this  monument,  which,  through 
the  generosity  of  the  State  of  New  York,  we  have  been  enabled  to  erect  to  the 
memory  of  those  of  our  number  who  gave  their  lives  for  the  blessings  we  are 
now  enjoying.  It  is  to  commemorate  the  sacrifices,  not  only  of  those  who 
died  on  this  field,  but  wherever  we  contested  with  the  armed  hosts  of  treason, 
on  all  fields  reddened  with  the  blood  of  our  members.  And  not  only  of  those 
who  yielded  up  their  lives  "mid  the  carnage  of  battle,"  but  to  include  the 
memory  of  those  who,  from  disease  and  exposure,  incurred  in  th€  faithful  per- 
formance of  duty,  are  equally  entitled  to  our  tribute. 

We  recall  with  pride,  mingled  with  sadness,  the  memories  of  those  two 
faithful  ones  on  that  memorable  night  fight  at  Groveton  —  John  Smith  and 
John  Van  Zandt;  of  Myron  Annis,  always  prompt  and  willing;  of  James  D. 
Morrison;  of  Charles  E.  Carpenter,  loved  by  every  member  of  the  battery, 
the  pride  and  only  son  of  his  widowed  mother;  of  the  brave  Costello,  and  the 
genial  John  P.  Conn;  of  the  generous,  whole-souled  Garry  Minnamon;  of 
the  fearless  and  intrepid  Myron  H.  Matthews;  the  ever-pleasant  Alfred  Wood; 
of  the  loyal  and  true  Lieut.  Charles  De  Mott;  together  with  the  equally  honored 
memories  of  James  Sprague,  Joseph  J.  Castleman,  John  Moore,  Jabez  A. 
Southard,  Riley  Benedict,  George  I.  AlHng,  John  Worthing,  Oliver  M.  Jones, 
Pulaski  M.  Shipman,  Jonathan  Ouston,  William  E.  Truesdale,  George  Blanch- 
ard  and  William  F.  Sheldon;  and  of  this  list  I  must  not  omit  to  mention  our 
well-loved  and  generous  associate,  William  H.  Bower,  who  sacrificed  in  our 
first  engagement  an  arm  and  was  otherwise  fearfully  mangled,  from  the  effects 
of  which  he  now  lies  sleeping  in  our  beautiful  Mount  Hope.  Others,  from 
exposure  and  disease,  now  rest  in  honored  graves,  while  yet  many  more  are 
suffering  from  wounds  and  disabilities  never  to  be  relieved  while  life  lasts. 
Of  all  those  suffering  from  wounds  and  disease,  I  have  never  heard  one  regret 
that  they  gave  the  best  part  of  their  lives  for  their  country,  or  for  the  sufferings 
they  were  undergoing  in  consequence.  Then  men  enlisted  from  a  sense  of 
duty,  willing  to  give  their  lives  if  called  upon;  they  were  imbued  with  the 
patriotic  impulses  which  lead  one  to  the  greatest  of  all  sacrifices,  if  needed. 
They  believed  we  had  the  grandest  government  ever  founded  by  man;  and 
knew  that  if  these  institutions  were  blotted  out,  civilization  might  be  retarded 
for  centuries. 

It  may  not  be  inopportune  at  this  time  to  give  a  brief  review  of  Battery  L. 
An  organization  of  a  company  of  light  artillery  was  effected  in  Rochester  in 
April,  1861,  under  the  first  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  75,000  troops,  and 


1254  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

tendered  the  government.  The  proffered  offer  was  declined,  with  the  informa- 
tion that  "  no  more  artillery  was  needed."  In  August  following,  Guilford  D. 
Bailey,  then  a  lieutenant  in  the  regular  army,  was  given  authority  to  raise  a 
regiment  of  light  artillery  in  the  State  of  New  York;  and  recruiting  was  comr 
menced  in  Rochester  the  latter  part  of  August.  At  this  time  the  fallacy  of 
the  Rebellion  being  put  down  in  ninety  days  had  been  exploded;  and  it  was 
fully  expected  that  those  who  enhsted  would  meet  the  dread  realities  of  war. 
A  sufficient  number  having  been  recruited,  the  company  was  inspected  and  ac- 
cepted September  17th,  and  sent  to  join  the  regiment  then  forming  at  Elmira. 
It  was  here  assigned  as  Battery  L.  From  Elmira  the  men  were  sent  to  Albany, 
where  they  were  joined  by  Battery  M,  and  the  two  batteries  proceeded  to 
Washington. 

In  May,  1862,  the  battery  was  sent  to  join  General  Banks  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley.  It  was  first  assigned  to  General  Saxton,  then  to  General  Sigel's  com- 
mand, and  from  the  latter  assigned  to  General  McDowell.  It  was  in  reserve, 
though  under  fire,  at  Cedar  Mountain.  The  first  engagement  was  at  Rappa- 
hannock Station,  where  Sergeant  Bower  and  John  O'Leary  were  wounded; 
then  followed  White  Sulphur  Springs,  and  Second  Bull  Run.  In  the  latter 
engagement  the  battery  bore  a  prominent  part;  had  a  number  of  men  wounded 
and  eight  horses  killed.  It  was  here  assigned  to  a  position  with  a  regular 
battery  and  another  volunteer  battery,  both  on  our  immediate  right.  Owing 
to  the  severe  firing  of  the  enemy  the  other  batteries  withdrew.  Battery  L  re- 
tained its  position,  returning  the  sharp  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  and  also 
repulsed  a  charge  of  infantry  by  a  rapid  discharge  of  canister,  retaining  the 
position  till  near  sunset,  when  directed  to  retire  by  a  general  officer.  The  bat- 
tery from  here  was  ordered  to  Centreville,  Chantilly,  thence  to  Washington, 
and  participated  with  the  First  Corps,  under  General  Hooker,  at  Antietam, 
remaining  with  and  taking  part  in  all  the  battles  of  the  corps,  and  that  memor- 
able march  from  Virginia  to  this  bloody  field. 

General  Bachelder,  the  historian  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  stales  that 
when  you  were  ordered  to  this  position  twenty-eight  of  the  enemy's  guns  at 
once  opened  on  you.  This  overwhelming  number  was  enough  to  annihilate 
you;  yet  ordered  here,  you  knew  it  was  a  soldier's  duty  to  obey.  With  two 
of  your  number  killed,  many  more  wounded,  your  captain  wounded  in  the 
side,  and  with  the  loss  of  an  eye,  not  a  man  faltered;  you  faithfully  worked 
your  guns  until  the  order  came  to  retire.  With  the  enemy  closing  in  on  all 
sides,  with  fearful  oaths  to  emphasize  their  cry  of  surrender,  you  eluded  their 
grasp,  saving  all  but  one  of  your  guns,  on  which  the  horses  were  shot  down, 
rendering  it  impossible  to  take  it  farther.  General  Hunt,  chief  of  artillery  of 
the  army,  speaking  of  this  engagement,  said,  "  Guns  can  be  lost  with  honor," 
adding,  that  this  was  such  an  instance.  This  gun  was  afterwards  recaptured, 
and  is  now  in  your  possession  at  Rochester.  Can  we  who  know  its  history 
wonder  at  your  affection  for  it,  and  that  you  feel  it  a  sacred  duty  tO'  follow  it 
in  parade  on  Memorial  Day? 

After  the  three  days'  bloody  fight  on  this  field,  and  the  repulse  of  the  hordes  of 
Lee,  though  weakened  by  losses,  yet  confident  of  success,  you  followed  the  sullen 
and  defeated  foe  back  to  Virginia.    You  shared  in  all  the  marches  and  battles  of 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1255 

the  glorious  old  First  Corps  until  its  consolidation  with  the  Fifth,  with  which 
you  remained,  taking  your  part  with  honor  until  the  final  surrender  at  Ap- 
pomattox. A  warm  regard  for  each  and  every  other,  officers  and  men,  existed 
from  the  organization  of  the  battery  till  its  muster  out.  A  pride  and  a  special 
esprit  de  corps  was  felt  by  you  all.  Your  readiness,  prompt  and  cheerful 
obedience  to  orders,  your  unflinching  courage  in  times  of  trial  inspired  your 
officers,  and  led  them  to  believe  the  command  equal  to  any  emergency.  This 
feeling  was  engendered  at  the  outset;  at  the  first  engagement  you  were  com- 
pelled to  go  into  action  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  batteries.  Your 
coolness  and  efficiency  during  that  engagement  won  the  warm  and  hearty 
commendation'  of  our  superiors,  and  the  fullest  confidence  was  afterwards 
placed  in  you.  The  record  you  have  made  is  a  rich  legacy  to  leave  to  your 
children  and  those  who  shall  come  after  you.  Let  it  be  the  aim  of  each  and 
every  one,  from  this  time  onward,  to  so  conduct  himself  that  no  stain  or  blot 
shall  tarnish  that  bright  escutcheon,  and  to  show  to  the  world  that  the  Ameri- 
can volunteer  soldier  is  the  true  type  of  an  American  citizen,  in  civil  as  well 
as  military  life. 

And  now,  as  we  unveil  and  dedicate  this  monument  to  our  dead  comrades, 
let  us  do  so  with  a  greater  and  higher  value  of  the  sacrifices  they  have  made, 
and  warmer  and  more  tender  regard  for  their  memories;  and  as  we  leave  this 
place,  let  us  renew  our  obligations  of  loyalty  and  fidelity  to  our  country,  with 
a  pledge  of  stronger  regard  for  her  institutions. 


ADDRESS  OF  MAJ.  GEORGE  BRECK. 
Comrades  of  Battery  L: 

It  is  exactly  twenty-eight  years  ago  to-day  since  this  organization  was  formed 
in  the  city  of  Rochester,  and  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  since  we  fought 
here,  as  Lincoln  declared  on  this  historic  field  that,  "  A  government  of  the 
people,  for  the  people,  and  by  the  people,  should  not  perish  from  the  earth." 
In  this  long  interval  of  nearly  a  generation,  I  believe  that  few,  if  any,  of  us 
have  ever  set  foot  on  this  scene  where  for  three  days  raged  one  of  the  fiercest 
battles  of  modern  times,  and  where  our  desperate,  courageous,  but  misguided 
foes  fought  for  their  last  great  stake  on  Northern  soil.  As  you  recall  your 
activity  amid  the  death  throes  and  din  of  that  tumultuous  strife,  you  may  well 
feel  proud  that  Battery  L  was  permitted  to  do  its  appointed  share  in  securing 
the  ^reat  victory  which  settled  the  fate  of  the  Republic.  You  may  well  reflect 
too  that  this  triumph  was  not  easily  purchased  nor  cheaply  won;  and  had  we 
suffered  a  reverse  here  of  the  magnitude  of  some  of  those  which  overcame 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  its  earlier  history  the  face  of  modern  civilization 
might  have  been  changed. 

Suppose,  for  instance,  the  army  of  General  Lee,  with  its  sullen  resolve  and 
impetuous  daring  to  strike  panic  into  the  Northern  heart,  and  hence  to  secure 
influential  political  allies  in  our  rear,  had  successively  occupied  Harrisburg, 
Philadelphia,  and  New  York, —  what  might  not  have  been  the  termination  of 
the  war?    It  is  perhaps  idle  to  speculate  upon  such  a  contingency.    Yet  we. 


1256  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

who  passed  through  the  greatest  civil  war  in  all  history,  all  know  that  there 
is  no  such  thing  as  certainty  in  the  result  of  the  clash  of  conflicting  armies, 
such  as  we  witnessed  here.  But  the  victory  was  priceless  all  the  same;  and 
the  survivors  of  this  field,  remembered  by  a  grateful  people,  have  written  over 
this  undulating  surface,  in  granite,  and  marble,  and  bronze,  the  story  of  that 
three  days'  triumphant  struggle,  making  this  battlefield  unique  for  all  time. 
Pass  over  the  fields  of  Waterloo,  of  Austerlitz,  of  Sadowa,  or  Gravelotte,  and 
you  behold  nothing  to  mark  the  gigantic  strife  of  nations  on  those  famous 
theatres  of  war.  It  has  remained  for  America  to  remember  her  sons  who  fell, 
as  we  see  them,  commemorated  on  these  diversified  acres;  and  certainly  we 
cannot  feel  otherwise  than  proud  that  not  the  least  among  the  commands  who 
have  a  monument  here  is  our  veteran  battery,  which  I  had  the  honor  to  com- 
mand during  the  latter  part  of  the  battle. 

In  keeping  with  the  proprieties  of  this  occasion  I  have  prepared,  with  the 
assistance  of  Lieutenant  Shelton,  a  sketch  of  the  part  which  this  battery 
took  in  the  action.  I  have  also  prepared  a  brief  sketch  of  Battery  "  L,"  and 
a  complete  roster  of  the  command  from  the  date  of  its  organization  until  it  was 
finally  mustered  out  of  service  at  Elmira,  June  17,  I865. 

Most  of  the  data  for  the  following  sketch  of  Reynolds'  Battery  at  Gettys- 
burg are  taken  from  the  official  report  of  General  Wainwright  to  General 
Hunt,  chief  of  artillery,  and  bearing  date  July  17,  1863.  We  are  indebted 
to  the  politeness  of  Major  Cooney,  at  the  New  York  headquarters  of  the  Gettys- 
burg Monuments  Commission,  for  access  to  the  advance  sheets  of  a  govern- 
ment work  on  Gettysburg  not  yet  published,  and  which  contains  the  report 
aforesaid. 

On  the  night  of  June  30,  1863,  Reynolds'  Battery  was  encamped  with 
the  batteries  and  troops  of  the  First  Corps,  about  two  miles  from  Emmitsburg, 
along  the  Pike  leading  to  Gettysburg.  Marching  orders  were  received  about 
8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  ist  of  July.  We  were  soon  apprised  of  the 
presence  of  the  enemy  by  the  sound  of  skirmish  firing  ahead,  and  between 
10  and  II  o'clock  the  battery  was  drawn  off  the  road  and  parked  in  a  field,  but 
a  short  distance  from  the  Seminary  Grove.  Those  of  us  who  were  present  at 
that  time,  will  remember  the  clouds  of  cavalry  skirmishers  which,  having  been 
relieved  by  the  infantry,  were  falling  back  down  the  hillsides  which  hid  the 
village  of  Gettysburg  from  our  view.  Leaving  the  caissons  at  this  point,  the 
battery  advanced  into  the  fields  between  the  town  and  the  Lutheran  Seminary. 

The  first  mention  of  the  battery  in  the  report  says :  "  Directing  Captain  Rey- 
nolds to  move  his  battery  of  six  three-inch  guns  forward,  I  rode  up  onto  the 
ridge,  but  finding  that  the  battery  would  be  exposed  and  totally  without  sup- 
port, .1  withdrew  it  before  it  reached  the  crest."  After  occupying  one  or  two 
positions  advancing.  Battery  L  was  ordered  to  relieve  Tidball's  Horse  Bat- 
tery, and  it  was  during  the  execution  of  this  movement  that  Captain  Reynolds 
was  wounded  and  the  command  of  the  battery  devolved  upon  Lieutenant 
Brack.  Captain  Reynolds  is  mentioned  in  the  report  as  gallantly  refusing  to 
leave  the  field.  At  this  point  the  battery  was  certainly  without  infantry  sup- 
port and  subjected  to  a  severe  cross-fire  from  our  right.  "  Both  batteries  " 
says  the  report,  "  were  obliged  to  retire."     Many  of  us  can  remember  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1257 

plunging  shots  of  the  enemy  throwing  up  the  black  earth  in  rear  of  the  car- 
riages as  they  fell  back  across  the  soft  stubble  field  to  the  next  ridge.  General 
Wainwright  continues :  "  Receiving  another  request  from  General  Wadsworth 
for  some  guns  in  his  front,  I  posted  Lieutenant  Wilber,  with  a  section  of  Com- 
pany L,  First  New  York,  in  the  Orchard  on  the  south  side  of  the  Cashtown 
Road,  where  he  was  sheltered  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  battery  on  his  right 
flank  by  the  intervening  houses  and  barn,  and  moved  the  remaining  four  pieces 
around  to  the  south  side  of  the  wood  on  the  open  crest." 

Some  confusion  about  the  Seminary  and  Cemetery  Ridges  seems  to  have 
prevailed  at  this  stage  of  the  battle,  and  Colonel  Wainwright,  understanding 
the  former  instead  of  the  latter  was  to  be  held  at  all  hazard,  proceeded  with 
his  usual  tenacity  of  purpose  to  post  his  batteries  at  this  end.  The  enemy's  in- 
fantry, meanwhile,  in  two  columns,  having  outflanked  us  to  the  left,  formed 
in  double  line  of  battle  and  came  directly  up  the  crest.  *  *  *  "  The  firing 
of  Lieutenant  Breck's  guns  was  much  interfered  with  by  our  own  infantry 
moving  in  front  of  his  pieces.  *  *  *  j  withdrew  Lieutenant  Breck's  two 
sections  when  the  first  line  was  within  about  2po  yards,  and  ordered  him 
behind  a  strong  stone  wall  on  the  Seminary  Crest."  At  this  juncture  the  in- 
fantry support  was  rapidly  withdrawn  by  conflicting  orders,  and  it  was  not 
until  such  support  was  seen  in  full  retreat  towards  the  town  that  the,  limbers 
were  ordered  to  the  rear,  and  the  batteries  moved  at  a  walk  down  the  Cash- 
town  Road  until  the  infantry  had  all  left  the  road  and  passed  behind  and  under 
cover  of  the  railroad  embankment.  By  this  time  the  enemy's  skirmishers  had 
lapped  our  retreating  column  within  fifty  yards  of  the  road.  "  The  Pike  being 
clear  the  batteries  broke  into  a  trot,  but  it  was  too  late  to  save  everything. 
Lieutenant  Wilber's  last  piece  had  the  ofif  wheel-horse  shot,  and  as  be  had 
just  disentangled  it,  three  more  of  the  horses  were  shot  down  and  his  own 
horse  killed,  so  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  bring  it  off.  It  affords  me  pleasure 
to  say  that  not  the  slightest  blame  can  be  attached  to  Lieutenant  Wilber  in 
the  loss  of  this  gun." 

After  passing  through  the  village  of  Gettysburg  the  enemy  was  checked, 
and  the  national  forces  seized  and  held  a  position  of  great  import- 
ance on  the  Cemetery  Ridge.  At  dusk  the  batteries  outside  the  Ceme- 
tery Gate  were  reposted:  Battery  B,  Fourth  United  States,  with  four  guns, 
across  the  Baltimore  Road  facing  the  village.  Next  it  four  guns  of  Battery  I, 
First  New  York,  Captain  Wiedrich;  next  Cooper's  four-gun  battery,  and  on 
the  extreme  right  of  this  line,  Reynolds'  Battery,  with  five  guns.  This  turn  or 
refusal  of  the  line  of  batteries  thus  mounted  thirteen  three-inch  guns  and  four 
Napoleons,  and  breastworks  of  the  horse-shoe  form  were  at  once  constructed 
before  the  pieces.  The  Fifth  Maine  Battery  is  described  as  posted  to  the  right 
and  some  fifty  yards  in  front  of  this  line,  on  a  small  knoll,  whence  it  com- 
manded a  flanking  fire  at  close  range  upon  any  column  attacking  this  front. 
"  During  the  morning  several  moving  columns  of  the  enemy  were  shelled  at 
intervals,  but  no  engagement  occurred  until  about  4  p.  m.,  when  they  planted 
a  battery  of  four  twenty-pounders  and  six  ten-pound  Parrotts  in  a  wheatfield 
in  our  immediate  front,  at  about  1,300  yards,  and  opened  the  most  accurate 
fire  I  have  ever  yet  seen  from  their  artillery." 


i2s8  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

This  engagement  lasted  for  an  hour  and  a  half,  when  the  enemy  retired, 
hauling  two  of  their  guns  off  by  hand.  A  portion  of  their  guns  maintained  a 
brief  fire  from  a  new  position  a  little  to  the  right,  but  were  soon  silenced.  After 
this  engagement  Cooper's  Battery  was  relieved  by  Ricketts'  Battery,  giving 
the  line  two  additional  guns.  About  dusk  (of  the  2d)  there  was  a  general 
attack  on  our  position  from  the  direction  of  the  village  by  General  Hays' 
Louisiana  Brigade,  and  Hoke's  North  Carolina  Brigade. 

Quoting  again  from  the  report:  "As  their  column  filed  out  of  the  town 
they  came  under  the  fire  of  the  Fifth  Maine  Battery  at  about  800  yards.  Wheel- 
ing into  line  they  swung  around,  their  right  resting  on  the  town,  and  pushed 
up  the  hill,  which  is  quite  steep  at  this  point.  As  their  line  became  fully  un- 
masked all  the  guns  which  could  be  brought  to  bear  were  opened  on  them,  at 
first  with  shrapnel  and  afterwards  with  canister,  making  a  total  of  fifteen  guns 
in  their  front  and  six  on  their  left  flank.  Their  centre  and  left  never  mounted 
tie  hill  at  all,  but  their  right  worked  its  way  up  under  the  cover  of  the  houses 
and  pushed  completely  through  Wiedrich's  Battery  into  Ricketts'.  The  can- 
noneers of  both  these  batteries  stood  well  to  their  guns,  driving  the  enemy 
oflf  with  fence-rails  and  stones,  and  capturing  a  few  prisoners.  I  believe  it 
may  be  claimed  that  this  attack  was  almost  entirely  repelled  by  the  artillery. 
My  surgeon,  who  was  in  town,  and  dressed  many  of  their  wounds,  tells  me 
that  they  reported  their  loss  in  this  engagement  as  very  great." 

On  the  third  day  the  battery  was  not  engaged,  and  from  its  position  CQuld 
take  no  part  in  the  heavy  cannonade  which  preceded  the  great  Pickett  charge. 
From  our  sheltered  position  we  could  see  gray  figures  moving  among  the  guns 
and  monuments  along  the  Cemetery  crest,  and  listen  to  the  awful  chorus 
of  batteries  that  ushered  in  the  last  act  on  this  great  field. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  casualties  at  this  great  struggle,  as  reported 
at  the  time  to  headquarters :  Capt  G.  H.  Reynolds,  lost  his  left  eye  and  bruised 
in  left  side ;  taken  to  hospital  in  town ;  taken  prisoner,  and  found  in  Gettysburg 
on  its  evacuation  by  the  enemy.  Edward  Costello,  killed.  Michael  Elringer, 
wounded  in  head.  John  Vallier,  wounded  in  right  foot  and  missing.  Patrick 
Gray,  wounded  in  back  by  piece  of  rail,  a  shell  striking  it;  missing.  Edward 
Foster,  wounded  in  left  foot.  George  Morris,  wounded  slightly  in  side.  John 
P.  Conn,  fatally  wounded.  George  Gavitt,  wounded  in  face  and  leg,  and  miss- 
ing. William  Cronoble,  wounded  in  the  right  shoulder.  Sergt.  Charles  A. 
Rooney,  slightly  wounded,  and  missing.  Amos  Gibbs,  wounded  in  left  wrist. 
Victor  Gretter,  slightly  wounded  in  leg.  William  Wood,  slightly  wounded 
in  ankle.  Corp.  George  Blake,  slightly  wounded  in  left  side.  Most  of  the 
above  were  taken  prisoners  in  Gettysburg,  and  found  there  on  our  army  oc- 
cupying the  town.  Isaac  Weinberg,  the  battery's  guidon,  was  captured  while 
attending  to  Captain  Reynolds,  but  was  released  with  him. 

Battery  L,  or  Reynolds'  Battery,  as  it  is  always  better  known,  was  organized 
in  the  city  of  Rochester,  September  17,  1861.  Thirteen  men  enHsted  that  day 
for  three  years'  service  in  the  volunteer  army,  forming  the  nucleus  of  an  or- 
ganization which  in  a  few  weeks  was  filled  to  the  maximum  number  of  a  six- 
gun  battery,  consisting  of  150  men.  The  company,  before  its  full  completion, 
departed  for  Elmira,  October  7th,  and  the  event  was  duly  celebrated  by  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1259 

old  Union  Grays  of  Rochester  firing  a  salute,  and  by  Hill's  Union  Blues  acting 
as  an  escort  to  the  depot.  On  the  25th  of  October,  the  company  was  mustered 
into  service,  numbering  then  81  men,  with  John  A.  Reynolds  as  captain, 
Edward  A.  Loder,  first  lieutenant,  and  Gilbert  H.  Reynolds,  second  lieutenant. 
On  the  13th  of  November  the  company  left  Elmira  for  Albany,  where  it  re- 
ceived a  sufficient  number  of  recruits  to  entitle  it  to  two  additional  commis- 
sioned officers.  Charles  L.  Anderson,  of  Palmyra,  and  George  Breck,  of  Ro- 
chester, were  made  second  lieutenants,  G.  H.  Reynolds  being  promoted  to  be 
one  of  the  first  lieutenants.  The  company  remained  at  Albany  until  Novem- 
ber 2ist,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Washington.  Here  it  was  quartered  at  Camp 
Barry  for  about  three  months,  during  which  time  the  battery  was  fully  equip- 
ped with  horses,  six  three-inch  rifled  cannon,  caissons,  forge  and  battery 
wagons,  and  everything  to  perfect  its  organization. 

On  February  25,  1862,  the  company  received  orders  to  proceed  to  Baltimore, 
and  the  following  day  it  encamped  in  that  city  at  Camp  Andrew,  or  Stewart's 
Mansion,  where  it  remained  some  three  months,  pleasantly  located,  doing 
holiday  soldiering  and  practicing  almost  daily  in  artillery  drill.  On  the  25th 
day  of  May,  on  a  bright  Sabbath  afternoon,  the  company  received  its  first  march- 
ing orders  for  active  field  service.  It  was  ordered  to  Harper's  Ferry  from 
Baltimore,  with  all  possible  despatch,  and  at  an  early  hour  the  next  morning 
it  had  reached  its  destination.  Stonewall  Jackson  was  making  his  famous  raid 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  repulsing  General  Banks's  army  and  threatening 
the  capture  of  Harper's  Ferry  and  the  city  of  Washington.  The  whole  North 
was  in  commotion  over  this  strategic  movement  of  the  Rebel  forces,  and  there 
was  a  hurrying  of  Federal  troops  to  Harper's  Ferry  to  avert  the  impending 
danger.  It  was  then  and  there  that  Reynolds'  Battery  first  began  to  soldier 
in  good  earnest;  and  not  until  the  close  of  the  war  was  there  any  suspension, 
for  any  length  of  time,  of  hardship,  marching,  and  fighting.  Its  halcyon  days 
of  military  hfe,  as  experienced  in  Baltimore,  were  at  an  end.  Henceforth  it 
was  to  confront  "  grim-visaged  war  "  for  the  preservation  of  the  Republic,  and 
how  well  the  company  did  its  work  is  a  matter  of  record.  It  was  an  organiza- 
tion of  which  Rochester  and  Monroe  County  could  be  and  were  proud. 

From  Harper's  Ferry  the  battery  began  to  move  up  the  Shenandoah  Valley, 
attached  to  General  Sigel's  Division,  in  pursuit  of  Jackson's  army.  It  was 
a  long  and  hard  chase,  attended  with  many  incidents;  but  the  day  came  when 
disaster  was  turned  into  victory.  Then  followed  the  great  retreat  of  the  Union 
army  upon  Washington,  one  of  the  leading  events  of  the  war.  Reynolds'  Bat- 
tery took  an  active  part  in  it.  At  about  the  commencement  of  the  retreat  the 
battery  was  near  the  Rappahannock  River,  which  stream  it  crossed  and  re- 
crossed  several  times  in  the  movements  of  the  army.  It  was  at  Rappahannock 
Station,  about  half-way  between  Culpeper  and  Warrenton  Junction,  that  the 
battery  engaged  in  its  first  real  fight.  It  fought  in  company  with  General 
Patrick's  Brigade,  of  McDowell's  Corps,  and  performed  efficient  service.  The 
first  member  of  the  company  who  was  wounded  in  the  battery's  service  was 
Sergt.  William  H.  Bower,  then  acting  as  lieutenant,  and  subsequently  promoted 
to  a  lieutenancy.  It  was  here  he  lost  his  left  arm  by  the  fragment  of  a  Con- 
federate shell. 


i26o  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  company's  next  engagement  was  at  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Va.,  where 
John  F.  Deitz  was  badly  wounded.  Then  followed  the  battle  of  Gainesville 
or  Groveton,  one  of  the  hottest  and  severest  engagements  which  the  battery 
ever  participated  in.  Here  brave  John  Smith  and  gallant  John  Van  Zandt  were 
killed. 

Then  occurred  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and  here  the  battery  won 
additional  credit  for  gallantry  and  efficiency.  The  company  could  muster  now 
but  seventy  men  and  needed  new  recruits.  For  several  months  there  had 
been  almost  constant  marching  and  fighting,  and  the  severest  hardships  had 
been  experienced.  And  then  occurred  the  battle  of  South  Mountain,  where 
the  battery  was  held  in  reserve;  and,  following  this,  was  the  great  battle  of 
Antietam,  on  the  17th  of  September,  1862,  just  one  year  from  the  date  of  the 
organization  of  the  company.  In  this  fierce  and  bloody  conflict  the  old  colors 
of  Battery  L  were  conspicuous  from  the  commencement  of  the  struggle  until 
its  close.  Here  Myron  Annis  was  killed  and  Peter  Proseus  had  both  legs 
badly  shattered. 

With  the  grand  Army  of  the  Potomac  the  battery  again  turned  its  face  in 
the  direction  of  Virginia  in  the  latter  part  of  October,  1862,  and  "  Onward  to 
Richmond"  was  once  more  the  cry.  In  November,  General  Burnside  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  army,  and  in  December  following,  the  battery  was 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  Here  David  Morrison,  of  Scottsville, 
was  mortally  wounded.  Then  followed  the  "masterly  retreat"  from  that 
historic  battlefield,  and  the  battery  went  into  camp  for  four  or  five  months  at 
Waugh  Point,  the  monotony  of  which  was  relieved  for  a  little  time  when  Gen- 
eral Burnside  made  his  famous  mud  movement  in  the  latter  part  of  January, 
1863,  in  which  the  battery  took  an  active  part. 

Shortly  after  this  General  Hooker  assumed  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  the  battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville  were  fought 
May  2d,  3d,  and  4th,  in  which  the  battery,  still  in  the  First  Corps,  was  hotly 
engaged,  particularly  below  Fredericksburg,  three  or  four  miles  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Rappahannock,  where  brave  Charles  Carpenter  was  killed  and 
several  of  the  men  were  wounded.  The  attacks  of  the  enemy's  batteries  were 
gallantly  repulsed,  two  of  his  caissons  being  blown  up  and  two  guns  dismounted. 
It  was  here  that  General  Reynolds,  commanding  the  First  Army  Corps,  came 
on  the  ground  where  the  battery  was  in  action  and  complimented  it  by  re- 
marking: "  If  that  battery  continues  to  stand  such  a  fire  as  it  is  receiving,  it 
will  stand  anywhere."  It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  that  John  A.  Reynolds, 
the  chief  organizer  of,  and  for  more  than  a  year  and  a  half  the  captain  of  the 
battery,  was  commissioned  as  major  in  the  First  New  York  Light  Artillery- 
Regiment,  and  subsequently  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  as 
chief  of  artillery  of  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps.  First  Lieut.  G.  H.  Reynolds 
was  commissioned  as  captain  and  took  command  of  the  battery.  George  Breck 
was  made  first  lieutenant;  Charles  L.  Anderson,  second  first  lieutenant;  and 
William  H.  Bower  was  promoted  from  first  sergeant  to  a  second  lieutenancy. 

About  six  weeks  after  was  fought  the  greatest  battle  of  the  war  — 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  In  this  terrible  conflict  Battery  L  was  an  active 
participant  from  the  first  to  the  close  of  the  third  day's  fighting.     In  this  en- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1261 

gagement  the  battery  lost  its  first  gun,  on  the  first  day's  encounter  with  the 
enemy,  a  detailed  account  of  which,  with  the  operations  of  the  battery  through 
the  three  days'  fight,  has  already  been  described. 

Following  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  a  multiplicity  of  incidents  and  move- 
ments culminating  in  the  battle  of  Mine  Run,  where  the  battery  was  closely 
engaged.  It  lay  at  Culpeper  in  winter  quarters  until  May  4,  1864,  when  the 
last  great  general  movement  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  command 
of  General  Grant,  was  begun.  The  battery  took  part  in  the  battles  of  the 
Wilderness,  Spotsylvania,  North  Anna,  Totopotomoy,  Cold  Harbor  (where 
Lieutenant  De  Mott  was  killed),  Bethesda  Church,  Petersburg,  Wefdon  Rail- 
road, and  Peebles'  Farm;  and  upon  its  colors  are  inscribed  the  names  of  these 
battlefields  and  others  in  which  it  participated. 

On  the  31st  of  May,  1865,  the  company  broke  camp  near  City  Point,  Va., 
and  made  its  first  movement  homeward  bound.  The  orders  disposing  of  the 
battery  as  one  of  the  batteries  of  the  volunteer  artillery  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  were  issued  about  May  30th,  and  on  the  6th  of  June  following,  the 
company  bade  adieu  to  Washington  and  started  for  Elmira,  the  original  place 
of  mustering  into  service,  arriving  there  two  days  subsequently.  On  the  17th 
of  June,  Reynolds'  Battery  was  duly  disbanded  and  the  members,  with  glad 
hearts,  went  to  their  respective  homes.  Of  the  number  of  men  who  originally 
joined  the  battery,  twenty-five  remained  at  the  time  it  was  mustered  out  of 
service.  One  hundred  and  sixty  joined  in  1861,  44  joined  in  1862,  100  joined 
in  1863  and  1864;  11  men  were  killed  or  died  from  wounds  received  in  action 
arid  29  died  from  sickness  contracted  in  service. 

Thus,  comrades,  have  I  sought  to  briefly  trace  the  succession  of  events,  when, 
as  citizen-soldiers,  we  first  took  service  in  the  artillery,  at  the  very  threshold 
of  manhood,  until  we  again  disappeared  in  the  civic  pursuits  of  life.  If  we 
have  regrets  to  utter  to-day,  it  is  over  the  memories  of  those  who  did  not  live 
to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  that  great  struggle  which  left  us  a  permanent  Union,  but 
fell  upon  this  and  other  fields.  Nor  is  it  probable  that  we  shall  ever  again  be 
gathered  in  such  a  reunion  and  amid  such  surroundings  as  these;  but  true  as 
that  may  be,  each  for  himself  will  long  cherish  the  recollection  that  on  the 
twenty-eighth  anniversary  of  the  formation  of  this  battery,  neither  our  patriot- 
ism nor  our  estimate  of  heroic  deeds  was  inadequate  to  the  true  appreciation 
of  the  sacrifices  made  here  at  Gettysburg. 


1263 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


(ilNSCRIPTIONS.) 


{Front.) 

battery  m, 
1st  n.  y.  light  artillery, 

1st  division,  13th  CORPS 


Held  this  position 

July  2D-3D,  1863. 

(Reverse.) 

Battles. 


Winchester 

Cedar  Mountain 

Beverly  Ford 

Antietam 

Chancellorsville 

Gettysburg 

Resaca 

(Right  Side.) 
Organized 

lockport,  n.  y. 

Mustered  in 

Oct.  14,  1861 


NeW'Hope  Church 

Dallas 

Kolb's  Farm 

Peach  Tree  Creek 

Atlanta 

Averasborough 

Bentonville 

(Left  Side.) 
Re-enlisted 

Dec.  10,  1863 

Mustered  out 

June  24,   1865 


J.  B.  LTON  PRINT.  F.  J.  SEVERENCE,  PHOTO. 

BATTERY    M,   1st    NEW   YORK    LIGHT   ARTILLERY. 

On  the  westerly  slope  of  Powers'  Hill,  about  250  yards  from  the  Baltimore  Pike. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1263 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

BATTERY  M  —  "  COTHRAN'S." 

FIRST  REGIMENT  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY." 

June  18,  1889. 

Historical  Sketch  by  Priv.  William  H.  Holmes. 

In  September,  1861,  an  organization  was  formed  at  Lockport,  Niagara 
County,  N.  Y.,  with  the  expectation  of  becoming  an  independent  fight  artil- 
lery company.  It  was  composed  mostly  of  men  recruited  in  Niagara  County 
by  the  efforts  of  George  W.  Cothran  of  Lockport;  but  with  them  were  quite 
a  number  of  men  recruited  in  Orleans  County,  by  Charles  E.  Winegar,  of 
Shelby,  in  that  county.  They  soon  moved  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  they  were 
mustered  by  Captain  Marshall  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  on  the 
14th  of  October,  1861,  to  serve  for  three  years.  Some  recruits  joined  them  here 
—  mostly  sent  on  from  Lockport,  together  with  a  few  residents  of  Rochester. 

About  November  ist,  they  were  ordered  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  soon  after, 
on  the  20th  of  November,  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  they  were  sent  into 
Camp  Barry.  Against  the  wishes  of  the  officers  and  men  they  were  incorpo- 
rated with  the  First  New  York  Artillery,  commanded  by  Col.  Guilford  D. 
Bailey>  and  became  Company  M  of  that  regiment.  The  officers  that  had  been 
chosen  and  commissioned  were;  captain,  George  W.  Cothran;  sr.  first  lieu- 
tenant, Charles  E.  Winegar;  jr.  first  lieutenant,  James  H.  Peabody;  sr.  second 
lieutenant,  George  B.  Eggleston;  jr.  second  lieutenant,  John  W.  Woodbury. 
John  H.  Gormley  was  appointed  first  sergeant,  and  R.  Wilson  Oliver,  quarter- 
master sergeant 

In  January,  1862,  the  battery,  having  received  horses  and  equipments  and 
six  ten-pound  Parrott  guns,  was  ordered  to  Frederick  City,  Md.  In  the  early 
spring,  one  section  under  Lieutenant  Peabody  was  stationed  at  Point  of  Rocks, 
Md.,  and  from  there  shelled  the  enemy  on  the  other  shore  of  the  Potomac. 
When,  in  March,  the  movement  was  made  to  cross  into  Virginia  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  by  the  army  under  General  Banks,  this  battery  was  placed  upon  Mary- 
land Heights,  and  after  covering  the  crossing  they  came  down  and  accompanied 
the  army  to  Winchester.  Being  ordered  elsewhere,  the  battery,  with  Banks' 
Division,  moved  through  Charlestown  and  Berryville,  when  the  attack  of  the 
enemy  under  General  (Stonewall)  Jackson,  upon  our  forces  under  General 
Shields,  at  Winchester,  caused  the  recall  of  General  Banks'  Division.  Then 
pursuing  Jackson  —  as  a  part  of  Banks'  army  up  the  Shenandoah  Valley  —  the 
battery  took  part  in  several  skirmishes,  shelling  the  enemy  at  Middletown, 
Cedar  Creek,  Woodstock,  and  Edenberg,  and  going  on  to  Harrisonburg. 

In  falling  back  from  Harrisonburg  to  Strasburg,  this  battery,  with  General 
Hatch's  Cavalry,  covered  the  movement  with  the  rear  guard.  In  the  retreat 
from  Strasburg  to  Winchester  —  after  Jackson's  attack  upon  Front  Royal  — 
the  battery  assisted  in  protecting  the  long  wagon  trains,  and  held,  each  section 


1264  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

by  itself,  very  important  positions  upon  the  line  of  battle  at  Winchester  the 
next  morning.  Two  men  were  killed  there,  and  several  men  and  some  horses 
wounded.  Lieutenant  Winegar  and  his  men  showed  especial  coolness  and 
bravery  in  getting  one  of  their  guns  loose,  and  saving  it  when  it  had  become 
fast  against  a  post  in  passing  through  a  gateway  after  our  infantry  had  left 
the  field  and  the  enemy  were  very  close.  Lieutenant  Woodbury  with  his 
section  and  one  gun  of  Lieutenant  Peabody's  section  again  rendered  efficient 
service  under  General  Hatch  in  covering  the  rear  of  our  army,  retreating  towards 
Williamsport,  and  holding  the  advancing  and  pursuing  columns  of  the  enemy 
in  check  by  shelling  the  head  of  their  column  from  every  Uttle  hill  along  the 
Pike.  At  Williamsport  the  same  section  was  on  the  picket  line  on  the  Virginia 
side  of  the  river  for  several  days. 

With  the  cavalry  and  Tenth  Maine  Infantry  it  made  a  reconnoissance  from 
there  to  Falling  Waters.  The  battery  soon  moved  up  the  Valley  again  to 
Newtown;  thence  to  Front  Royal,  and  thence  across  to  the  vicinity  of  Warren- 
ton,  when  General  Banks'  command  —  to  which  this  battery  was  still  attached 
—  became  a  corps  of  General  Pope's  Army  of  Northern  Virginia.  The  battery 
was  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  Union  line  at  Cedar  Mountain,  and  took  an 
important  part  in  silencing  the  enemy's  artillery,  which  was  doing  much  dam- 
age during  the  evening  of  that  day.  The  battery  assisted  in  the  defence  of 
the  line  of  the  Rappahannock,  having  a  severe  duel  with  two  of  the  enemy's 
batteries  at  Beverly  Ford;  also  a  skirmish  at  White  Sulphur  Springs.  At  the 
time  of  the  battle  of  Second  Bull  Run,  the  battery,  with  the  rest  of  the  corps, 
was  engaged  in  the  effort  to  save  the  wagon  trains  of  Pope's  army,  and  several 
railroad  trains  which  were  cut  off  by  the  burning  of  bridges  by  the  enemy. 
In  the  reorganization  of  the  army  under  General  McClellan,  this  corps  became 
the  Twelfth  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  under  the  command  of  Major 
General  Mansfield. 

At  the  battle  of  Antietam,  Battery  M  and  Knap's  Pennsylvania  Battery  were 
ordered  to  the  front  from  a  point  just  in  rear  of  the  East  Woods,  just  after  the 
killing  of  General  Mansfield  and  wounding  of  General  Hooker,  and  just  as 
the  Union  forces  were  driven  back  out  of  the  West  Woods,  across  the  Hagers- 
town  Pike,  past  the  Dunker  Church,  and  across  the  open  fields  and  into  the 
East  Woods.  Passing  rapidly  throught  the  East  Woods  the  batteries  took 
position  under  a  severe  musketry  fire  from  the  enemy  advancing  across  the 
Hagerstown  Pike,  —  Knap's,  across  the  road  leading  from  the  East  Woods 
to  the  Dunker  Church  —  and  Battery  M,  with  the  leading  gun  200  yards  to 
the  right  of  this  road  and  120  rods  from  the  church,  forming  line  by  inversion, 
the  left  gun  on  the  right,  about  80  rods  from  the  Hagerstown  Pike.  By  the 
use  of  canister,  and  without  aid  from  the  infantry,  these  batteries  stopped 
the  enemy's  advance,  and  drove  them  back  across  the  Pike  into  the  West 
Woods,  holding  this  line  for  about  five  hours  against  repeated  charges  of  the 
enemy,  who  on  one  or  two  of  the  charges  were  assisted  by  a  Rebel  battery  on 
high  ground  on  our  front  and  right.  When  these  batteries  were  finally  relieved 
and  ordered  back  to  Keedysville  to  refill  their  ammunition  chests,  everything 
was  quiet  on  that  part  of  the  line,  the  repulse  of  the  enemy  having  been 
complete.     When,  three  days  after,  the  battery  crossed  this  field  "  that  had 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1265 

been  in  their  front,"  the  large  number  of  the  enemy's  dead  that  lay,  almost 
in  rows,  showed  the  efficiency  of  that  fire  of  canister. 

After  camping  in  Pleasant  Valley  some  time,  Battery  M,  with  G€neral  Kane's 
Brigade,  was  twice  upon  the  summit  of  Loudoun  Heights.  Then  with  the 
Twelfth  Corps,  under  command  of  Major  General  Slocum,  at  the  time  of 
Burnside's  attack  on  Fredericksburg,  Battery  M  moved  to  and  past  Fairfax 
Station.  When  Burnside's  second  ("stick  in  the  mud")  movement  was 
begun,  this  corps  moved  again  through  Dumfries  to  Stafford  Court  House, 
where  the  battery  camped  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Winegar  until  it 
started  for  Chancellorsville. 

Here  after  considerable  moving  about,  Battery  M,  in  position  to  the  right 
and  front  of  the  Chancellorsville  House,  had  a  severe  artillery  duel  with  one 
of  the  enemy's  batteries.  When  the  giving  way  of  the  right  wing  was  seen,  the 
battery  changed  front,  facing  to  the  right,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  stampeded 
men  oi  the  Eleventh  Corps  passed  between  its  pieces  as  they  went  to  the  rear. 
As  soon  as  they  were  past,  the  battery  opened  fire  on  the  advancing  enemy. 
Other  batteries  were  brought  up  and  placed  on  the  right  and  left  till  a  line 
of  thirty  guns  or  more  was  formed.  The  left  of  Battery  M  was  just  in  front 
of  the  old  loghouse.  The  battery  took  an  active  part  in  the  severe  fighting 
during  that  night  and  the  next  forenoon,  and  all  its  guns  moved  off  the  field, 
among  the  very  last  to  leave.  One,  if  not  two  guns,  were  drawn  off  by  two 
horses  only,  and  two  caissons  were  left  on  the  field  —  the  horses  having  been 
killed.  Lieutenant  Winegar  and  one  of  his  men  were  captured  by  the  enemy 
while  trying  to  see  if  there  was  not  an  opportunity  to  secure  the  lost  caissons. 

Returning  to  their  old  camp  at  Stafford  Court  House,  and  then  camping 
awhile  at  Aquia  Creek,  the  battery  moved  with  the  rest  of  the  army  until  Gettys- 
burg was  reached,  a  little  before  night  on  July  i,  1863.  Being  unable  to  find 
a  useful  position  in  the  line  of  the  Twelfth  Corps  on  Gulp's  Hill,  during  the 
forenoon  of  July  2d,  the  sections  of  the  battery  —  (there  were  only  two  sections 
since  the  severe  losses  of  men  and  horses  at  Chancellorsville)  were  placed, — 
one,  the  right  section,  under  Lieutenant  Woodbury  on  Powers'  Hill,  and  the 
other,  the  left,  under  Lieutenant  Smith,  and  accompanied  by  Lieutenant  Wine- 
gar, commanding  battery,  upon  the  McAllister  Farm  on  the  hill  just  in  the 
corner  of  the  Apple  Orchard,  a  few  rods  to  the  right  of  the  road  leading  from 
the  Baltimore  Pike  to  the  McAllister  House.  The  position  of  the  right  section 
on  Powers'  Hill  was  considerably  farther  to  the  left  and  front  of  that  indicated 
by  the  battery's  monument.  Both  sections  aided  the  infantry  of  the  Twelfth 
Corps  in  retaking  their  breastworks  —  (lost  while  they  went  to  the  assistance 
of  the  left  wing,  just  at  night  on  July  2d,)  during  the  forenoon  of  July  3d,  by 
firing  in  the  direction  of  Benner's  Hill.  The  right  section  fired  over  the  heads 
of  the  men  of  the  Twelfth  Corps,  and  the  left  section  past  the  right  flank  of 
the  infantry.  During  the  fight  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  occupying  a  stone 
house,  said  to  Ijelong  to  Zeb.  Taney,  did  great  damage  to  some  of  our  infantry 
regiments,  especially  the  Twenty-seventh  Indiana,  under  Colonel  Colgrove. 
At  his  request  one  or  both  guns  of  the  left  section  were  moved 
across  the  Baltimore  Pike  to  a  level  spot  of  high  ground,  just  back 
of  a  piece  of  woods,  from  which  point  an  unobstructed  view  of  this  stone  house 

80 


1266  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

was  obtained.  A  few  well-directed  percussion  shells  knocked  the  front  out  of 
the  house,  killed  or  wounded  many  of  the  sharpshooters  concealed  in  it,  and 
relieved  our  infantry  from  further  danger  or  annoyance  from  that  source. 
Neither  section  came  under  musketry  fire  at  this  battle;  but  both  were  right 
in  easy  range  of  the  shells  that,  fired  by  the  enemy  from  Seminary  Ridge,  passed 
over  our  men  on  Cemetery  Hill.  Lieutenant  Woodbury  received  his  commis- 
sion as  captain  just  as  the  battery  was  leaving  this  field,  on  the  morning  of 
July  4th. 

After  accompanying  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  near  Raccoon  Ford,  on  the 
Rapidan  River,  the  battery  with  the  rest  of  the  Twelfth  and  the  Eleventh  Corps, 
returned  to  Washington  and  was  sent  by  rail  via  Maryland,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Ken- 
tucky, and  Tennessee,  to  Murfreesboro.  Thence  Battery  M  marched  to  De- 
cherd  and  camped  awhile.  It  then  moved  to  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  and  spent 
the  winter  guarding  the  railroad  bridge,  steamboat  landing,  and  accumulated 
stores. 

On  February  6,  1864,  a  sufficient  number  of  the  original  number  of  Battery 
M  signed  papers  to  "  veteranize,"  and  a  few  days  after  sixty-three  men  were 
mustered  out  of  their  old  enlistment,  and  mustered  in  for  a  new  period  of  three 
years.  In  the  fore  part  of  March,  the  veterans  received  their  furlough,  and 
went  home,  returning  about  the  middle  of  April.  They  were  preceded  a  few 
days  by  some  forty  recruits  enlisted  mostly  in  Niagara  County  for  service  in 
that  company.  About  twenty-five  recruits  had  joined  the  battery  just  after  the 
battle  of  Antietam.  Five  men  who  enlisted  in  Jefiferson  County  for  another 
battery  of  the  First  New  York  Artillery  were  permanently  assigned  to  Battery 
M  before  that,  in  July  or  August,  1862.  One  recruit  was  received  in  the  Shen- 
andoah Valley,  a  man  mustered  out  with  the  Seventh  New  York  Cavalry  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  March  30,  1862. 

Moving  to  Chattanooga,  the  battery  received  a  new  armament  of  six  brass 
twelve-pounder,  smooth-bore  guns,  and  necessary  number  of  horses.  As  a 
part  of  the  Twentieth  Corps  (Eleventh  and  Twelfth  consolidated)  under  Gen- 
eral Hooker,  Battery  M  took  an  active  part  in  General  Sherman's  Atlanta 
campaign,  being  almost  daily  under  fire  for  over  two  months.  It  took  part 
in  engagements  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15th;  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  May  25th; 
New  Hope  Church,  June  i6th;  Kolb's  Farm,  June  22d;  Dallas,  June  28th; 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  July  20th ;  near  Atlanta  in  the  breastworks  during  July  and 
August;  and  entering  the  city  September  2,  1864.  The  Twentieth  Corps, 
including  Battery  M,  occupied  the  city  until  starting  on  the  "  March  to  the 
Sea." 

Arriving  at  the  end  of  this  march,  in  rear  of  Savannah,  the  battery  took  part 
in  the  operations  against  that  city,  and  in  guarding  the  river  against  attempts 
to  send  assistance  to  the  city  from  Augusta.  About  January  i,  1865,  the  bat- 
tery crossed  into  South  Carolina,  and  moving  as  part  of  the  Twentieth  Corps 
across  that  State  and  into  North  CaroUna,  took  an  active  part  in  the  battles  of 
Averasboro,  March  i6th,  and  Bentonville,  March  19th.  At  Goldsboro,  N.  C,  a 
rest  was  taken.  Then  the  march  continued  to  Raleigh,  N.  C.  While  near  this 
city  the  war  was  practically  closed  by  the  surrender  of  General  Johnston's  armv, 
the  army  of  General  Lee  having  already  surrendered  to  General  Grant. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1267 

Some  thirty  more  recruits  were  received  by  the  battery  at  Atlanta,  shortly 
before  starting  on  the  "  March  to  the  Sea."  From  Raleigh  the  battery  ac- 
companied Sherman's  army  on  the  march  to  Richmond,  and  thence  to  Washing- 
ton, where  it  took  part  in  the  Grand  Review.  It  turned  in  its  horses  and  equip- 
ments, came  by  rail  back  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where  the  men  were  mustered  out 
June  23,  1S65.  Captain  Woodbury  resigned  at  Atlanta,  in  September,  1864, 
and  Lieutenant  Smith  was  in  command  for  a  time,  after  which  Lieutenant 
Newkirk  was  assigned  to  its  command.  About  the  time  of  the  review  at  Wash- 
ington, Captain  Underbill  was  assigned  to  the  battery,  and  took  command. 

The  battery  had,  all  told,  262  ofificers  and  men.  Of  these,  2  were  killed  in 
battle  at  Winchester,  Va.,  May,  25,  1862;  4  at  Chancellorsville,  May  3,  1863; 
I  at  Antietam,  Md.,  September  17,  1862;  i  at  New  Hope  Church,  Ga.,  June  16, 
1864;  I  at  Kolb's  Farm,  Ga.,  June  22,  1864;  and  i  in  the  works  before  Atlanta, 
July  30,  1864.  One  died  of  wounds  received  in  battle  at  Winchester,  Va., 
dying  at  Hagerstown,  Md.,  July  4,  1862;  and  i  died  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  June 
28,  1864,  of  wounds  received  in  battle;  20  died  of  disease;  39  were  discharged 
for  disability;  2  were  transferred  to  the  Navy,  and  5  to  the  Invalid  Corps;  14 
were  mustered  out  at  expiration  of  time  of  service  of  three  years;  and  16  are 
supposed  to  have  deserted.  Five  officers  resigned;  i  was  promoted  and  trans- 
ferred; 2  sergeants  received  commissions  and  were  assigned  to  other  companies; 
and  I  officer  was  discharged. 


1268  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


(INSCRIPTIOirS.) 


(Front.) 
COWAN'S  FIRST  NEW  YORK  BATTERY 
ARTILLERY  BRIGADE  — SIXTH  CORPS 
July  3,  1863 
Double  canister  at  ten  yards 
(Reverse.) 
Erected  in  memory  of  our  comrades,  July  3,  1887. 
"  The  world  can  never  forget  what  they  did  here." 
During  the  cannonade  preceding  Longstreet's  assault,  the  battery 
was  engaged  a  short  distance  farther  to  the  left,  but  by  order  of 
General  Webb,  it  moved  at  a  gallop  to  this  position,  which  Battery 
B,   1ST  R.   I.   Artillery   had   occupied.    Skirmishing   had   just   com- 
menced.   The  Confederate  lines  were  advancing  and  continued  their 
charge  in  the  most  splendid  manner  up  to  our  position.    The  artillery 

FIRE  WAS  continuous  AND  DID  MUCH  EXECUTION.  OUR  LAST  CHARGE,  DOUBLE 
canister,  was  fired  WHEN  SOME  OF  THE  ENEMY  WERE  OVER  THE  DEFENCES 
AND  WITHIN  TEN  YARDS  OF  OUR  GUNS.  OuR  LOSS  WAS  FOUR  MEN  AND  FOUR- 
TEEN   horses    KILLED,    TWO    LIEUTENANTS    AND    SIX    MEN    WOUNDED.  ThE 

battery  was  relieved  on  the  morning  of  july  5,  and  returned  to  the 
6th  Corps. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1269 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

1st  independent  BATTERY  — "COWAN'S." 

July  3,  1887. 

Address  by  Hon.  Sereno  E.  Payne. 

Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863,  marks  the  grandest  page  in  history.  How  diffi- 
cult to  carry  ourselves  back  and  live  over  again  the  events  of  that  day.  The 
sun  rose  upon  two  hostile  armies;  in  numerical  strength  they  were  nearly 
equal,  a  small  percentage  possibly  favoring  the  Union  side. 

Over  there  they  were  flushed  with  their  recent  victory  at  Chancellorsville, 
and  under  their  great  leader  of  many  battles,  they  were  for  the  second  time 
invading  their  enemy's  country.  They  were  an  army  of  veterans,  confident 
in  each  other,  and  in  the  leader  under  whom  they  had  served  for  two  long 
years. 

Here  too  was  an  army  of  veterans,  which  had  proved  itself,  as  has  been  well 
said,  "  its  own  hero."  It  had  unbounded  confidence  in  itself;  but  confidence  in 
its  new-found  leader  of  less  than  a  week  was  a  thing  hardly  bom. 

On  the  1st  day  of  July,  while  the  two  armies  were  literally  searching  for 
each  other,  18,000  of  our  men  engaged  about  30,000  of  the  Confederates,  and, 
with  the  hardest  and  most  gallant  fighting,  held  them  in  check,  until  the  bal- 
ance of  our  army  could  come  up.  The  first  day's  battle  was  marked  by  courage 
and  sacrifice  unequalled,  and  rendered  possible  a  line  of  battle  on  Cemetery 
Ridge   for  the  next  day. 

On  the  second  day  our  army  met  the  fiercest  assaults,  first  on  our  right  flank 
at  Gulp's  Hill,  and  then  on  the  left  at  Little  Round  Top,  names  that  have  be- 
come historic  for  the  deeds  of  that  day.  To  do  full  credit  to  the  courage  and 
devotion  of  our  troops  on  these  two  days,  volumes  might  be  written,  and 
yet  the  story  would  be  half  untold.  But  the  ceremonies  of  this  day  have  to  do 
with  the  third  day  of  the  fight,  and  it  is  impossible  to  speak  in  detail  of  the 
prior  days.  The  whole  history  of  the  three  days'  battle  at  Gettysburg  is  so 
full  of  grand  achievement,  of  personal  acts  of  heroism,  that  it  is  impossible, 
at  this  distance,  to  make  just  distinction  or  to  give  due  credit.  It  seems  as  if 
each  part  depended  so  fully  upon  the  other,  that  the  whole  achievement  de- 
pended so  critically  upon  the  courage,  devotion,  and  fortitude  of  each  regiment 
and  battalion,  that  had  anyone  failed  at  an  important  moment,  all  would  have 
been  lost.  And  thus  it  is  the  hightest  meed  of  praise,  to  say  that  each  performed 
well  its  part.  Never  before  were  issues  so  momentous,  involved  in  a  single 
battle.  The  South  had  struggled  gallantly  for  two  long  years,  at  great  odds, 
and  on  many  a  battlefield  had  successfully  repelled  the  assaults  of  the  Union 
forces,  in  their  "  On  to  Richmond."  With  pluck  and  determination  never  ex- 
celled they  had  organized  vast  armies,  and  with  a  devotion  and  sacrifice  that 
reached  the  verge  of  starvation,  they  had  equipped  and  maintained  them 
in  the  field.  For  two  days  they  had  vigorously  assaulted  the  enemy, 
upon  his  own  soil,  and  now  the  decisive  hour  was  come.  Into  the  balance 
they  had  thrown  their  fortune,  their  honor,  and  their  lives.    To  them  defeat 


1270  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

meant  the  sure  loss  of  property,  of  life,  of  honor.  But  victory  would  bring  the 
recognition  of  the  Confederacy  by  England  and  France,  with  final  intervention 
and  aid.  It  would  secure  peace  to  their  homes,  prosperity  to  their  fortunes, 
and  happiness  to  their  lives.  Rebellion  would  become  accomplished;  revolu- 
tion, and  even  their  new-born  flag  would  be  a  thing  of  honor. 

Behind  them  was  a  people  that  had  advanced  from  a  reluctant  acquiescence 
in  the  beginning  of  the  Rebellion,  to  an  earnest  loyalty  to  their  States,  and  a 
firm  faith  in  the  justice  and  future  triumph  of  their  cause.  After  weary  months 
of  waiting  and  of  privation,  they  thought  they  saw  the  first  bright  rays  of  hope 
and  promise,  while  public  sentiment  in  the  South  was  forcing  the  Confederate 
general  to  renew  the  attack,  against  his  own  better  judgment  and  contrary  to 
the  advice  and  counsel  of  his  trusted  Heutenant.  The  dread  consequences  of 
defeat,  the  magnificent  fruits  of  coveted  victory,  the  flush  and  enthusiasm  of 
recent  success,  confidence,  and  courage, —  all  conspired  to  put  the  Southern 
army  on  its  mettle  on  that  memorable  day. 

On  this  side  was  an  army  that  had  been  a  prey  to  divided  counsels.  Its 
leaders  had  been  hampered  by  orders  and  restrictions  of  generals  not  in  the 
field.  It  had  been  goaded  by  the  cry  "  On  to  Richmond,"  until  in  sheer  des- 
peration, it  had  worn  itself  out  in  costly  attacks  upon  the  enemy,  in  his  own 
chosen  intrenchments. 

Again  and  again  it  had  marched  bravely  up  to  battle  with  heroic  courage,  only 
to  meet  disheartening  repulse,  or  win  a  useless  victory  at  a  fearful  cost.  But 
this  grand  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  never  faltered  or  flinched.  Disciplined 
by  adversity,  trained  on  many  a  gory  field,  with  alertness  and  courage  its  rank 
and  file  went  forth  to  battle  on  that  eventful  day.  In  this  great  army  there 
was  a  thinking  mind  behind  each  musket.  Each  man  knew  something  of  the 
momentous  issue  at  stake.  From  the  mutterings  in  the  rear,  they  knew  there 
were  traitors  at  home.  They  too  heard  the  dismal  whispers  of  foreign  recogni- 
tion, and  they  knew  that  their  defeat  presaged  intervention  by  the  foreign 
enemies  of  the  great  Republic.  But  more  than  all  this,  they  were  inspired  with 
the  same  feeling  that  the  other  army  had  left  behind  them  in  old  Virginia; 
they  were  to  fight  on  their  own  soil,  before  their  own  doors,  in  defence  of 
their  own  hearthstones. 

The  sun  had  passed  the  meridian,  while  each  army  awaited  the  movement 
of  the  other.  Boys,  you  will  remember  that  hour.  On  the  two  previous  days 
the  enemy  had  directed  his  attack  on  either  flank;  on  this,  the  onset  was  to  be 
upon  the  centre.  One  hundred  guns  were  posted  on  yonder  ridge,  converging 
towards  Meade's  left  centre,  while  the  Union  general  had  only  room  to  place 
in  position  eighty  guns. 

Wrote  an  eye  witness  at  the  time :  "  Suddenly  we  were  startled  by  the  report 
of  two  guns.  For  a  moment  all  was  still  again;  and  then  burst  upon  us  the 
most  terrific  storm  of  iron  we  had  ever  witnessed.  The  artillery  fire  at  White 
Oak  Swamp,  we  had  always  deemed  impossible  to  be  surpassed  for  fierceness 
but  this  was  far  more  terrible." 

That  grand  artillery  duel  lasting  for  two  mortal  hours,  you  will  never  forget. 
The  continuous  and  deafening  roar  was  heard  forty  miles  away.  The  huo-e 
furrows  ploughed  through  the  fields  with  shot  and  shell,  the  broken  grave- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1271 

stones  whose  flying  fragments  carried  death  and  destruction  among  our  ranks, 
the  exploding  caissons  and  dismantled  guns,  the  dead  and  wounded  horses 
and  men  lying  here  and  there  among  the  batteries, —  all  added  horror  to  the 
scene. 

After  two  hours  of  unequalled  cannonading.  General  Hunt,  our  chief  of 
artillery,  give  the  order  "  Cease  firing,"  with  the  double  object  of  cooling  the 
guns  and  reserving  ammunition  for  the  expected  infantry  assault.  Nor  had 
you  long  to  wait.  Lee  deceived  into  the  belief  that  he  had  accomplished  his 
double  purpose,  both  in  demoralizing  the  enemy,  and  exhausting  his  ammuni- 
tion, quickly  ordered  the  charge. 

How  well  you  remember  those  14,000  picked  men,  including  Pickett's  Divi- 
sion just  arrived  for  the  fight,  as  they  emerged  from  the  woods.  Formed  in 
double  column,  they  moved  with  the  steady  tread  of  veterans  forward  to  the 
charge.  Instantly  our  artillery  reopened  their  terrible  fire,  and  plowed  great 
gaps  through  their  ranks.  With  what  consummate  coolness  they  closed  up  the 
gaps,  and  with  unwavering  lines  marched  to  the  charge.  What  fearful  destruc- 
tion of  human  life  as  they  move  steadily  onward,  and  across  this  mile  of  open 
field!  When  within  300  yards  of  our  line  your  guns  were  charged  with  the 
deadly  canister,  and  then  the  destruction  becomes  more  fearful.  They  fall 
in  great  swaths,  mown  down  by  the  hundreds.  Still  on  they  come.  The 
remnant  that  is  left  at  last  penetrate  the  breastworks,  and  are  scarcely  ten  yards 
away.  You  remember  that  last  charge  of  canister,  what  fearful  destruction 
it  wrought;  the  rally  of  the  infantry  by  the  gallant  Webb;  how  eagerly  all 
rushed  to  the  point  assailed,  until  a  line  was  formed  like  a  solid  wall  that  the 
remnant  of  Pickett's  men  could  not  penetrate?  And  right  here  in  our  lines 
they  surrender,  and  the  field  of  Gettysburg  is  won. 

Right  here,  on  the  crest  of  Cemetery  Hill,  Cowan's  men  stood  bravely  to 
their  guns  all  through  that  terrible  day.  As  on  every  battlefield  all  through 
that  terrible  war,  they  did  their  full  duty  bravely  and  well,  and  performed  a 
soldier's  manly  part.  Distinctions  are  invidious  on  a  field  where  thousands 
of  heroes  appeared;  but  it  is  fitting  that  this  beautiful  monument  should  mark 
this  spot,  as  a  tribute  to  true  and  manly  courage,  and  that  the  truth  of  history 
may  be  vindicated  through  coming  generations. 

Over  the  sickening  sight  that  marked  the  pathway  of  Pickett's  men  with 
its  thousands  of  mutilated  men  all  mangled  and  torn,  wounded  and  dying, 
let  us  draw  the  veil,  and  thank  God  that  there  is  no  longer  war  within  our 
borders. 

In  Gettysburg,  the  cause  of  secession  met  its  Waterloo.  Indeed,  the  parallel 
between  these  great  battles  is  most  striking.  The  numbers  engaged  in  each 
army  was  about  the  same  on  each  of  these  battlefields.  At  Waterloo  the  victori- 
ous army  lost  23,185  men  and  the  vanquished  about  30,000.  At  Gettysburg,  the 
Union  loss  was  23,190,  and  the  Confederate  loss,  although  never  officially  re- 
ported, is  estimated  at  about  30,000.  The  result  at  Waterloo  preserved  intact  the 
map  of  Europe,  while  at  Gettysburg  was  settled  for  all  time  the  Union  of  the 
States. 

What  a  glorious  awakening  was  there  on  the  4th  of  July,  1863.  On 
that  day  the  Declaration  of  Independence  had  a  new  meaning.     For  at  Gettys- 


1272  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

burg  had  been  fought  the  decisive  battle  of  a  war  which  forever  settled  three 
things  —  the  downfall  of  secession,  Uberty  throughout  the  land,  and  the  equality 
of  all  men  before  the  law. 

"  Put  ofif  thy  shoes  from  off  thy  feet,  for  the  place  whereon  thou  standest 
is  holy  ground,"  were  the  words  that  nearly  forty  centuries  ago  rang  out  from 
the  burning  bush  to  the  great  liberator  of  the  Hebrew  race.  From  out  the 
smoke  and  fire  of  battle,  down  through  a  quarter  of  a  century,  there  comes 
to  us  a  voice  that  should  inspire  us,  as  with  uncovered  head  and  reverent  step 
we  survey  yonder  Cemetery  —  the  silent  bivouac  of  the  dead.  There  he  men 
who  were  as  brave  as  ever  shouldered  musket,  who  fell  in  a  cause  as  grand  as 
ever  called  for  the  sacrifice  of  human  life.  What  scenes  have  these  fields 
witnessed!  A  husband  gazing  for  the  last  time  upon  the  features  of  his  young 
wife,  a  son  murmuring  for  the  last  time  the  magic  name  of  mother,  a  father 
yearning  in  his  death  agony  to  hear  again  the  innocent  prattle  of  his  little  ones, 
so  soon  to  be  turned  upon  the  cold  mercies  of  the  world!  Friend  and  foe, 
the  Blue  and  the  Gray,  lying  side  by  side!  For  death  levels  all,  the  victor  and 
the  vanquished. 

How  many  a  braye  man,  when  told  that  his  wound  was  mortal,  peacefully 
composed  himself,  aitd  waited  with  Christian  resignation  the  coming  of  the 
grim  monster.  To  him  death  had  no  terrors.  Well  might  he  exclaim,  "  I 
have  fought  a  good  fight."  From  such  a  death  scene  there  comes  a  voice  to 
us  living,  in  the  busy  battle  of  life: 

"  So  live,  that  when  thy  summons  comes 
To  join  the  innumerable  caravan  that  moves 
To  that  mysterious  realm,  where  each 
Shall  take  his  chamber  in  the  silent  halls  of  death, 
Thus  go,  not  like  the  quarry  slave  at  night. 
Scourged  to  his  dungeon;  but,  sustained  and  soothed 
By  an  unfaltering  trust,  approach  the  grave 
Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch  about  him 
And  lies  down  to  jileasant  dreams." 

On  this  field  died  the  Confederate  General  Barksdale,  in  the  presence  of  a 
Union  general,  who  afterwards  said  of  him :  "  He  died  like  a  brave  man,  with 
dignity  and  resignation."  And  here  on  this  battlefield  the  cause  of  secession 
perished;  and,  as  Americans,  we  may  all  proudly  say,  fighting  grandly  it  fell 
with  dignity,  if  not  with  resignation. 

But  time  has  brought  resignation  also.  Now  and  then  we  hear  a  croaking 
voice  mourning  the  fate  of  the  "  lost  cause; "  but  those  wailing  notes  are 
drowned  in  the  new  song  of  the  New  South.  The  patriotic  utterances  of  a  Grady, 
and  more  recently  of  a  Lamar,  are  doing  much  to  cement  the  body  of  the 
whole  Union,  and  bring  about  a  more  universal  acquiescence  in  the  results  of 
the  war.  The  time  is  not  far  distant,  when  from  the  East  and  the  West,  from 
the  North  and  the  South,  all  men  shall  everywhere  admit  that  the  war  for  the 
Union  was  right,  eternally  right;  that  the  cause  for  secession  was  wrong,  ever- 
lastingly wrong. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1273 

And  while  I  say  this,  I  want  here  to  put  on  record  my  respect  for  the  men 
of  the  South  who  risked  all,  who  dared  all,  who  sacrificed  all,  for  a  cause 
which  they  believed  to  be  righl  and  true.  Born  of  their  ancestry,  reared 
with  their  surroundings,  wedded  to  their  institutions,  educated  to  a  belief  in 
State  sovereignty  and  the  right  of  secession, —  as  I  remember  all  this,  as  I 
recall  their  heroic  struggles,  as  I  behold  again  that  unequaled  charge  of  Pickett's 
men,  as  the  rank  and  file  close  up  gap  after  gap,  to  be  mowed  down  again 
and  again  by-  our  artillery, —  I  cannot  repress  the  proud  exclamation,  "  These, 
too,  are  Americans! " 

The  last  battle  has  been  fought,  the  last  charge  has  been  made,  and  more 
than  a  score  of  years  have  passed  since  the  final  surrender.  Children  then 
unborn  are  American  sovereigns  to-day,  doing  their  part  in  administering  the 
government  of  the  people.  Time  has  healed  many  wounds,  and  we  of  the 
North  and  you  of  the  South  have  come  to  understand  each  other  better. 

Alas,  the  scars  remain;  and  there  is  much  that,  although  forgiven  mayhaps, 
cannot  be  forgotten.  And  yet  pressing  forward  to  the  things  that  are  before, 
let  us  endeavor  to  forget  the  things  that  are  behind.  Better  that  the  captured 
emblems  of  that  memorable  struggle  be  hidden  away,  luitU  the  slow  tooth  of 
Time  shall  have  eaten  away  the  last  shred,  than  that  they  brought  into  the 
light  of  day,  to  awaken  dying  enthusiasm  of  other  days,  or  to  enkindle  old 
animosities.    Let  our  anger  slumber  with  these  embattled  flags. 

One  bright,  glorious,  significant  flag  —  the  Stars  and  Stripes  —  is  enough  for 
us.  Its  thirteen  stripes,  reminding  us  of  the  throes  of  the  Revolution,  its  thirty- 
eight  stars  not  one  lost  or  clouded  or  dim,  all  set  in  the  field  of  Union  blue, — 
these  are  all  potent  to  inspire  the  coming  rulers  of  America  with  courage, 
wisdom,  and  patriotism.  "  Old  Glory  "  covers  beneath  its  mighty  folds  this 
whole  broad  land  of  ours.  I  have  no  fear  for  the  future  of  the  Republic. 
You  of  the  South  have  lived  to  see  the  day  that  the  defeat  against  which  you 
prayed,  has  brought  you  the  choicest  blessings.  The  victories  and  defeats  of 
the  war,  on  many  a  field,  brought  a  new  and  mutual  respect.  The  throes  of 
the  reconstruction  period  gave  birth  to  mutual  forbearance.  The  develop- 
ments of  new  industries,  the  interchanging  of  population,  new  commerce,  new 
lines  of  trade,  the  binding  together  of  the  two  sections  by  a  network  of  steel, 
the  interflashing  of  thought  along  the  electric  wire,  new  social  and  religious 
ties,  have  bound  us  together  into  one  common  country.  Sectional  hate  is 
giving  away  to  national  love. 

The  principles  for  which  our  fathers  fought  have  become  a  living  reality. 
God  reigns,  and  this  government  of  the  people  shall  not  perish. 

"  Oh  beautiful  and  grand, 
My  own,  my  native  land. 

Of  these,  I  boast. 
Great  empire  of  the  West, 
The  dearest  and  the  best, 
Made  up  of  all  the  rest, 

I  love  thee  most." 


1274  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 


The  First  New  York  Battery  was  recruited  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  and  there 
entered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  November  23,  1861.  The  battery 
numbered  156  officers,  artificers  and  privates.  The  examining  surgeon.  Dr. 
L.  D.  Briggs,  declared  that  he  had  never  examined  a  finer  company  of  men. 
They  were  all  picked  men,  mostly  farmers  and  sons  of  farmers,  with  a  good 
sprinkling  of  city-bred  boys  who  proved  to  be  as  brave  and  sturdy  and  as 
able  as  the  best  to  bear  the  hardships  of  the  war. 

The  commissioned  officers  were  Capt.  T.  J.  Kennedy,  and  Lieuts.  Andrew 
Cowan,  William  P.  Wright,  James  O.  Woodruff,  and  William  H.  Johnson. 
Captain  Kennedy  and  Lieutenant  Cowan  had  served  in  the  Nineteenth  New 
York  Volunteer  Regiment  as  captain  and  first  sergeant  of  Company  B,  from 
April  16,  1861,  when  they  were  ordered  to  return  to  Auburn  and  recrtrit  for 
the  regiment. 

Captain  Kennedy  obtained  authority  from  the  War  Department,  October 
18,  1861,  to  raise  a  battery  of  light  artillery,  of  which  he  became  captain. 
Sergeant  Cowan  assisted  in  recruiting  and  organizing  the  battery,  and  was 
appointed  to  be  its  senior  first  lieutenant.  Captain  Kennedy  resigned  the 
captaincy  of  the  battery,  near  Yorktown,  Va.,  about  April  6,  1862,  to  accept  a 
major's  commission  in  the  Third  Regiment,  New  York  Artillery.  Then  upon 
the  recommendation  of  Gen.  William  F.  Barry,  chief  of  artillery  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  Lieut.  Andrew  Cowan  was  promoted  to  captain,  to  date  from 
January  23,  1862. 

The  battery  re-enlisted,  at  Brandy  Station,  Va.,  in  January,  1864,  almost  in  a 
body, —  but  one  officer  and  a  few  enlisted  men  declining.  Numerous  recruiting 
agents  from  Northern  counties  and  towns  were  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
at  that  time,  offering  bounties  for  re-enlistment  on  condition  that  the  men 
were  credited  to  the  place  paying  the  bounty,  the  object  being  to  furnish 
their  quota  of  volunteers  and  avoid  the  draft  The  amount  usually  offered 
to  each  man  was  $300,  but  none  of  the  officers  or  men  of  this  battery  accepted 
of  bounty.  The  battery  was  mustered  out  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  June  23,  1865, 
by  reason  of  the  close  of  the  war. 

Captain  Andrew  Cowan,  who  had  been  brevetted  major,  "  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  services,  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  Spotsylvania,  Cold  Har- 
bor, Petersburg,  and  Gilbert's  Ford  on  the  Opequon  Creek,"  and  lieutenant 
colonel  "  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  campaign  terminating 
with  the  surrender  of  the  insurgent  army  under  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee,"  was 
the  only  officer  left  of  the  five  who  went  out  with  tlie  battery  in  1861. 

Captain  Kennedy,  as  has  been  stated,  was  made  a  major  of  the  Third  New 
York  Artillery  Regiment.  Lieutenant  Johnson  was  wounded  at  Gettysburg, 
and  died  of  wounds  received  at  Winchester,  Va.,  the  following  year.  Lieu- 
tenant Wright  was  shot  through  the  body  at  Gettysburg,  when  the  Confederates 
were  less  than  twenty  yards  from  the  section  he  commanded.  His  recovery, 
after  so  desperate  a  wound,  was  no  doubt  due  to  his  temperate  habits  and  vigor- 
ous constitution,  but  he  was  disabled  for  further  service.  At  his  own  request. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1275 

afterwards,  he  was  honorably  mustered  out  of  the  service  by  order  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  on  account  of  permanent  disabihty  caused  by  wounds.  Lieutenant 
Wocdruff  had  resigned,  after  more  than  a  year's  sickness,  the  results  of  exposure 
in  the  service.  Captain  Cowan  had  been  severely  wounded,  but  had  recovered 
sufficiently  to  return  to  duty  in  about  six  weeks.  Eight  noncommissioned 
officers  of  the  battery  had  been  promoted  to  Ueutenants.  Of  these  new  offi- 
cers, Lieut.  Henry  D.  Vaughn  was  killed  at  Cedar  Creek,  Va.,  and  Lieut.  Edwin 
Hiser  was  mustered  out  at  the  expiration  of  the  three  years  for  which  the 
battery  had  originally  enlisted.  Lieutenants  Atkins  and  Kelly  resigned.  Lieut. 
O.  R.  Van  Etten  was  severely  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  and  was  afterwards 
brevetted  captain  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  Cedar  Creek.  He 
commanded  the  battery  while  Captain  Cowan  was  disabled  for  duty  by  reason 
of  wounds,  and  also  throughout  the  last  campaign  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
Captain  Cowan  was  appointed  chief  of  artillery  of  the  Sixth  Ct>rps,  before 
Petersburg,  Va.,  and  continued  in  command  of  its  Artillery  Brigade  until  the 
corps  was  disbanded  at  Washington  in  June,  1865.  He  then  rejoined  the 
battery  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  relieving  Brevet  Capt.  O.  R.  Van  Etten,  who  had 
ably  commanded  the  battery  during  the  periods  named.  Lieut.  William  H. 
Johnson  was  in  command  of  the  battery  in  the  battle  of  Winchester,  where  he 
was  fatally  wounded.  The  commissioned  officers  mustered  out  with  the  battery 
at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  June  23,  1865,  were  Capt.  and  Brevet  Lieut.  Col.  Andrew 
Cowan,  Lieut,  and  Brevet  Capt.  O.  R.  Van  Etten,  and  Lieuts.  William  Sears, 
Lewis  Tallman,  and  Milton  J.  Kinney. 

The  losses  of  the  battery  in  battle  were  2  commissioned  officers  and  18  en- 
listed men,  killed  or  died  of  wounds,  and  4  officers  and  35  enlisted  men  wounded. 

Thirty-eight  enlisted  men  died  of  disease.  It  is  claimed  that  but  one  bat- 
tery of  all  the  volunteer  batteries  in  the  war  sustained  a  greater  aggregate  loss. 

Smith's  Division,  to  which  the  battery  was  attached  at  Camp  Grifiin,  Va.,  in 
February,  1862,  became  the  Second  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  when  that 
corps  was  organized.  With  the  famous  Sixth  Army  Corps,  the  First  New 
York  battery  served  continuously  from  Yorktown  on  the  Peninsula  to  Ap- 
pomattox Court  House,  Va.,  where  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  surrendered. 
The  last  engagement  of  the  battery  was  at  Sailor's  Creek,  Va.,  April  6,  1865, 
where  the  Sixth  Corps  and  part  of  Sheridan's  Cavalry  captured  Ewell's  Corps, 
numbering  7,000  men  and  11  general  officers.  In  that  battle  the  artillery 
was  very  effective.  General  Ewell,  in  his  official  report,  states  that  the  enemy's 
artillery  approached  within  800  yards  and  "  opened  a  terrible  fire."  The 
distance  was  really  under  500  yards  at  the  centre. 

The  battery  served  with  the  Second  Corps  also,  in  two  great  battles,  viz.: 
before  "  the  Bloody  Angle  "  at  Spotsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  1864,  atid  at  Gettys- 
burg, Pa.,  July  3,  1863.  The  part  borne  by  the  battery  in  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg is  briefly  told  in  Captain  Cowan's  official  report,  addressed  to  the  chief 
of  artillery  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  For  the  report  of  the  New  York  Monuments 
Commission,  the  following  account  of  the  battle  at  Gettysburg  and  its  part 
in  repulsing  the  assault  of  Pickett's  Division  upon  Webb's  Pennsylvania  Bri- 
gade, with  Cushing's  Regular  Battery  and  Cowan's  First  New  York  Battery  in 
support,  on  the  right  and  left  of  "  the  clump  of  trees,"  is  told  by  Colonel  Cowan, 
who  has  resided  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  since  the  close  of  the  war. 


1276  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

"The  Sixth  Corps  had  halted  for  the  night  near  Manchester,  Md.,  about 
thirty-five  miles  from  Gettysburg,  July  i,  1863.  About  8  o'clock,  p.  m.,  news 
of  the  fighting  at  Gettysburg  and  the  death  of  General  Reynolds,  commander 
of  the  First  Corps,  reached  our  headquarters.  The  corps  was  put  in  motion 
at  once,  and  by  forced  marching  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  battlefield  about 
2  o'clock,  p.  m.,  July  2d.  Most  of  the  infantry  was  moved  to  support  the 
left  flank  of  the  army,  when  heavily  assailed  by  Longstreet's  entire  command. 
The  battle  of  that  afternoon,  between  the  Third  Corps  and  Longstreet's,  was 
most  stubbornly  fought  and  was  probably  one  of  the  bloodiest  of  the  war. 
The  Third  Corps  sufTered  immense  losses,  but  it  broke  the  right  arm  of 
Lee's  army. 

The  First  New  York  Battery  was  placed  in  position  on  the  left  of  the  Bal- 
timore Turnpike,  nccir  the  bridge  over  Rock  Creek,  about  6  o'clock,  p.  m.,  July 
2d,  and  the  men  were  kept  at  the  guns  all  night.  A  Confederate  division  had 
advanced  and  entered  the  Union  rifle  pits,  at  the  extreme  right  of  the  line 
from  which  troops  of  the  Twelfth  Corps  had  been  taken  to  reinforce  the  left, 
and  the  Sixth  Corps  Artillery  was  kept  in  readiness  to  prevent  a  movement 
by  the  enemy  across  the  Baltimore  Pike,  if  it  should  be  attempted  during  the 
night.  The  Confederates,  however,  were  driven  out  by  the  Union  troops  early 
next  morning;  and  soon  after  daylight,  July  3d,  the  First  New  York  Battery 
was  ordered  to  report  to  General  Newton,  commanding  the  First  Corps,  near 
the  base  of  Little  Round  Top.  It  was  placed  in  position,  at  the  extreme  right 
of  this  corps,  when  the  cannonade  was  opened  by  the  Confederate  batteries. 
In  that  position,  partly  overlapping  the  left  of  the  Second  Corps,  the  battery 
fought  until  the  order  "Cease  firing;  hold  your  fire  for  the  infantry!"  was 
shouted  by  an  officer  who  galloped  on  towards  the  left  without  halting.  A  few 
moments  later  another  officer,  coming  from  the  right,  rode  through  the  battery 
shouting  "  Report  to  General  Webb  at  the  right  with  your  battery!  "  Captain 
Cowan  hesitated  a  moment  before  deciding  to  obey  an  order  coming  from 
beyond  the  line  of  the  First  Corps;  but  looking  in  the  direction  indicated  he 
saw  an  officer,  standing  upon  the  higher  ground,  waving  his  hat  to  hasten 
the  battery  forward.  The  officer  was  Gen.  Alex.  S.  Webb.  It  was  also  seen 
that  a  battery  was  withdrawing  from  its  position  on  the  left  of  a  clump  of 
trees  where  General  Webb  stood.  That  was  Brown's  Rhode  Island  Battery, 
the  second  battery  to  the  right  of  the  First  New  York,  the  first  on  the  right 
being  Battery  B,  First  Regiment  New  York  Artillery,  commanded  by  Captain 
Rorty.  Brown's  Battery  was  crippled  and  had  exhausted  its  ammunition, 
having  also  been  actively  engaged  in  the  battle  of  the  previous  day.  One  of 
its  guns  was  disabled  by  a  shell  from  the  enemy  that  struck  the  gun  and  lodged 
in  its  muzzle.  The  withdrawal  of  that  battery,  before  an  assault  from  the 
Confederate  infantry,  was,  therefore,  made  necessary. 

The  First  New  York  Battery  immediately  galloped  into  the  place  vacated 
by  Brown,  on  the  left  of  "  the  clump  of  trees."  The  Rebel  battle  flags  could 
be  plainly  seen  from  this  position,  and  skirmishing  had  begun.  On  the  right 
of  "  the  clump  of  trees  "  was  Cushing's  Regular  Battery.  The  leading  gun 
of  Cowan's  six  was  carried,  in  the  furious  gallop,  to  the  right  of  the  trees  and 
crowded  upon  the  left  gun  of  Cushing's  Battery.     Lieutenant  Gushing  was 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1277 

then  wounded  in  the  thigh,  but  not  disabled.  He  ordered  the  left  guns  of  his 
battery  to  be  pushed  by  hand  to  a  low  wall  about  twenty  yards  forward,  where 
our  infantry  were  crouching  for  shelter  from  the  enemy's  shells  that  were 
striking  and  exploding  on  all  sides.  Lieutenant  Gushing  was  killed  at  the  wall, 
whffre  the  enemy  seized  two  of  his  guns,  which  they  held  for  a  few  moments. 
The  Confederate  line  of  battle  advanced  in  the  most  splendid  manner,  exposed 
to  a  destructive  artillery  fire,  and  to  volleys  of  musketry  when  at  a  closer 
range.  After  crossing  the  Emmitsburg  Road  their  Hne  was  somewhat  broken, 
and  numbers  of  them  lay  down  behind  large  rocks  and  bushes  about  100  yards 
short  of  the  Union  line.  These  men  mostly  directed  their  fire  at  Rorty's  Bat- 
tery B,  First  New  York  Artillery, —  which  was  withdrawn,  leaving  Captain 
Rorty  and  a  number  of  the  men  lying  dead  on  the  field.  But  the  majority  of 
the  Confederates,  gallantly  led  by  their  officers,  pushed  forward  to  the  wall, 
which  numbers  of  them  crossed  on  both  the  left  and  right  of  the  trees.  This 
low  stone  wall  had  been  thrown  down  in  places  to  let  the-guns  through  on  the 
second  day,  and  at  these  gaps  and  in  other  places  rails  had  been  used  for  addi- 
tional shelter.  That  was  the  only  breastwork  or  fortification  that  protected 
Webb's  infantry,  on  the  left  of  the  trees.  Cowan's  guns  on  the  left  and  Cush- 
ing's  on  the  right,  except  the  two  or  three  that  had  been  pushed  forward  to 
the  wall,  had  no  defence  of  any  kind.  The  next  morning,  however,  orders 
were  given  to  throw  up  breastworks;  but  on  the  ridge  where  the  guns  stood 
it  was  found  to  be  impracticable,  owing  to  the  scanty  soil  that  covered  the 
rocks  to  a  depth  of  but  two  or  three  inches.  When  the  enemy  had  advanced 
about  half  the  distance  between  the  Emmitsburg  Road  and  the  Union  position, 
the  troops  that  were  posted  behind  the  wall  and  rails,  about  twenty  yards  in 
front  of  Cowan's  guns,  rose  up  suddenly  and  moved  to  the  right  of  the  trees 
with  much  confusion.  An  order  of  some  kind  was  giyen  at  the  right,  which 
the  officers  at  the  left  of  the  regiment  may  have  misunderstood,  for  this  move- 
ment exposed  the  entire  front  of  the  First  New  York  Battery.  The  enemy 
canae  rushing  forward,  shouting  "  Take  the  guns  1 "  while  the  guns  were  being 
rapidly  loaded  with  double  canister.  Lieutenant  Wright  was  shot  through  the 
body  while  Captain  Cowan  was  giving  him  the  order  to  have  the  guns  dragged 
back  by  hand,  as  soon  as  they  were  discharged.  The  man  that  shot  Lieutenant 
Wright  was  at  the  wall,  from  which  another,  at  the  same  moment,  fired  a  ball 
through  the  skirt  of  Captain  Cowan's  coat.  Lieutenant  Johnson  had  been 
wounded  earlier  in  the  action,  and  Lieutenant  Atkins  had  been  disabled  by  sun- 
stroke. Lieutenant  Kelly  was  left  in  charge  of  the  caissons  near  the  foot  of 
Little  Round  Top. 

A  number  of  the  enemy  had  already  crossed  the  wall,  in  front  of  the  battery, 
led  by  a  yoimg  officer  waving  his  sword  and  shouting,  "  Take  the  guns !  "  when 
five  guns  loaded  with  double  canister  and  depressed  to  the  lowest  were  dis- 
charged and  then  dragged  back  by  hand.  The  effect  of  the  canister  was  so 
terrific  that  no  attempt  was  made  to  take  the  g^ns,  which  were  restored  to 
their  position,  except  the  gun  on  the  right  of  the  trees  that  got  away  entirely 
and  was  not  returned  until  an  hour  afterwards.  The  young  officer  witli  the 
sword  lay  dead  on  the  ground  with  many  others  about  him.  His  sword  was 
returned  to  Pickett's  survivors  by  Colonel  Cowan  on  the  same  spot  twenty-four 


1278  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

years  afterwards.  He  was  buried  by  Captain  Cowan's  men,  behind  the  crest 
where  their  own  dead  were  buried.  A  cracker-box  board  was  placed  at  the 
head  of  his  grave,  on  which  Captain  Cowan  wrote  about  as  follows: 

"A  Rebel  major,  killed  while  gallantly  leading  the  charge  near  this  spot, 
July  3,  I863."  Captain  Rorty,  of  Battery  B,  First  New  York  Artillery  was 
buried  by  Captain  Cowan's  orders  on  the  right  of  the  Confederate  major,  and 
his  grave  was  also  marked  with  a  head-board  bearing  his  name  and  rank. 

On  the  right  of  the  trees  the  enemy  had  broken  through,  led  by  General 
Armistead.  Part  of  our  infantry  fell  back  in  disorder,  but  were  rallied  by  Gen- 
eral Webb  and  others  around  several  stands  of  colors,  all  bunched  together 
on  the  crest.  Most  of  the  Confederates  who  had  crossed  the  wall  were  soon 
killed  or  wounded,  and  the  rest  attempted  to  retreat.  But  few  were  success- 
ful, and  hundreds  on  both  sides  of  the  wall  threw  down  their  arms  and  sur- 
rendered. Captain  Cowan  had  always  declared  that  the  victory  was  due  to  the 
personal  courage  and  gallantry  of  General  Webb,  in  a  degree  far  greater  than 
has  been  acknowledged.  When  the  result  of  the  assault  was  seen  from  the 
Confederate  side,  one  of  their  batteries  galloped  forward  to  the  Emmitsburg 
Road  to  assist  in  covering  the  retreat.  The  guns  of  the  First  New  York  Bat- 
tery, one  aimed  by  Captain  Cowan  and  the  other  by  Sergeant  Van  Etten,  ex- 
ploded two  ammunition  chests  of  that  battery  in  quick  succession,  whereupon 
it  was  hurriedly  withdrawn. 

The  First  New  York  Battery  had  4  men  and  14  horses  killed,  and  2  lieu- 
tenants and  6  men  wounded,  i  of  the  latter  dying  on  the  field.  General  Webb 
sent  Captain  Cowan  a  detail  of  ten  men  from  an  infantry  regiment  to  assist  in 
manning  the  battery.  Soon  after  the  firing  had  ceased,  Mr.  Wilkeson,  the  cor- 
respondent of  a  New  York  paper,  was  passing  along  the  line  and  halted  at 
Cowan's  Battery,  where  the  evidence  of  very  desperate  work  in  front  of  the 
guns  had  attracted  his  attention.  He  asked  Captain  Cowan  to  walk  down  to 
the  wall  with  him,  and  point  out  how  the  enemy  had  advanced.  The  dead  and 
wounded,  both  Union  and  Confederate,  covered  the  ground  between  the  guns 
and  the  wall,  while  at  the  wall  and  just  beyond  it  the  scene  was  dreadful  to 
look  upon. 

The  battery  was  relieved  July  5th  and  then  returned  to  the  Sixth  Corps. 
General  Webb  expressed  regret  at  having  to  part  with  the  battery,  and  spoke 
warmly  of  the  service  it  had  performed.  Captain  Cowan,  therefore,  expected 
that  the  battery  would  be  officially  mentioned  in  a  suitable  manner,  notwith- 
standing that  it  belonged  to  a  different  army  corps.  It  was  not  known  until 
more  than  twenty  years  afterwards  that  very  slight  mention  of  the  battery  had 
been  made  in  General  Webb's  official  report.  Indeed,  it  was  mentioned  only 
as  Wheeler's  First  New  York  Battery,  and  was  given  about  the  credit  due 
to  a  section  from  Wheeler's  Thirteenth  New  York  Battery,  that  had  been 
brought  from  the  Eleventh  Corps,  by  Captain  Banes,  General  Webb's  assistant 
adjutant  general,  and  placed  in  the  position  vacated  by  Rorty's  Battery. 
Wheeler's  two  guns  had  arrived  too  late  to  take  part  in  repulsing  the  assault, 
and  after  firing  a  few  rounds  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy  the  guns  returned 
to  the  Eleventh  Corps.  Captain  Cowan's  official  report,  addressed  to  the 
chief  of  artillery  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  could  not  be  found  in  the  War  Depart- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1279 

ment,  but  it  was  discovered,  after  a  diligent  search,  directed  ty  Col.  Robert 
N.  Scott,  tben  in  charge  of  the  Rebellion  records,  who  became  much  inter- 
ested in  Colonel  Cowan's  contention  for  the  proper  recognition  of  the  battery. 
General  Webb's  attention  being  called  to  the  matter  he  readily  recognized  that, 
in  fact.  Cowan's  Battery  had  not  been  mentioned  at  all,  and  he  promptly  asked 
permission  to  correct  his  report,  which  was  granted  by  the  adjutant  general 
of  the  army. 

The  members  of  the  Battery  Association,  however,  were  very  unhappy  and 
indignant  when  it  became  known  that  the  battery  had  not  been  given  the  proper 
credit  for  its  great  service  at  Gettysburg;  so  they  began  to  discuss  the  question 
of  erecting  a  monument  on  the  battlefield  in  honor  of  the  battery  and  in  memory 
of  their  comrades  who  had  fallen  there  and  in  other  battles  of  the  war.  The 
result  was  a  reunion  of  the  battery  at  Gettysburg,  July  3, 1886,  and  the  adoption 
there  of  the  following  resolution: 

"  Resolved,  That  we,  the  surviving  members  of  the  First  New  York  Inde- 
pendent Battery,  assembled  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  on  this  twenty-third  anniver- 
sary of  the  battle,  express  our  determination  to  erect  on  Cemetery  Ridge,  at 
the  "  High  Water  Mark  "  of  the  Rebellion,  an  appropriate  monument  in  com- 
memoration of  the  services  of  the  battery  on  this  great  battlefield,  and  in 
memory  of  more  than  fifty  of  our  comrades  who  on  this  and  other  battlefields 
gave  their  lives  for  their  country. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  pledge  our  hearty  support  to  this  noble  work,  and  we 
confidently  rely  on  all  survivors  of  the  battery,  together  with  the  citizens  of 
Cayuga  County, —  who  have  not  forgotten  the  splendid  deeds  of  her  sons  on 
thirty  battlefields, —  for  generous  assistance." 

While  at  Gettysburg  attending  the  reunion  Captain  Cowan  discovered,  in 
a  guide-book  to  the  battlefield,  written  by  J.  Howard  Wert,  A.  M.,  and  pub- 
lished by  R.  M.  Sturgeon  &  Co.,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  an  extract  from  Samuel 
Wilkeson's  description  of  the  assault  and  repulse  of  Pickett's  Division.  Mr. 
Wilkeson  was  the  newspaper  correspondent  who,  as  has  been  related,  stopped 
at  Cowan's  Battery  to  examine  the  ground  in  its  front,  after  the  assault  and 
before  the  wounded  had  been  removed,  or  any  of  the  dead  had  been  buried. 

That  he  had  mentioned  the  battery  was  unknown  to  Captain  Cowan,  or  to 
any  one  of  the  battery.  It  was  startling  to  find,  in  this  manner,  twenty-three 
years  after  the  battle,  this  extract  from  that  famous  war  correspondent,  written 
on  the  battlefield  for  his  paper,  "  The  New  York  Times." 

Writing  of  the  charge  he  says:  "There  never  was  better  lighting  since 
Thermopylae  than  was  done  by  our  infantry  and  artillery.  The  Rebels  were 
over  our  defences.  They  had  cleared  the  cannoneers  and  horses  from  one  of 
the  guns  and  were  whirling  it  around  to  use  upon  us.  The  bayonet  drove 
them  back.  From  Cowan's  Battery  the  service  of  grape  shot  and  canister  was 
awful.  It  enabled  our  line,  outnumbered  two  to  one,  first  to  beat  back  Long- 
street  and  then  to  charge  upon  him  and  take  a  great  number  of  his  men 
prisoners." 

The  effect  of  the  canister  from  Cowan's  guns  was  truly  "  awful,"  as  Wilke- 
son wrote.  The  last  charge  of  "  double  canister  "  was  fired  at  the  crisis  of  the 
charge,  when  the  enemy  had  broken  through  on  the  right  of  the  trees,  and 


i28o  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

had  crossed  the  wall  in  front  of  Cowan's  guns,  after  our  infantry  had  with- 
drawn to  the  right  of  the  trees,  as  had  been  described.  The  battery  does  not 
claim  to  have  performed  more  than  its  duty.  But  it  should  not  Jae  forgotten 
that  when  the  battery  on  its  left  had  withdrawn,  leaving  its  captain  and  many 
others  dead  on  the  field,  and  Cushing's  guns  on  the  right  of*  the  trees,  at  the 
wall,  had  been  seized  by  the  enemy, —  when  our  troops  at  the  right  of  the 
trees  were  rallying  around  Webb  and  the  colors  on  the  crest,  the  First  New 
York  Battery,  without  infantry  support,  stood  fast,  and  swept  the  already 
exultant  foe  from  before  it  with  "  double  canister,"  fired  at  the  supreme  crisis 
of  the  assault.    The  battery  is  entitled  to  whatever  credit  is  due  for  that  service. 

The  Battery  Association  having  resolved  to  erect  a  monument  at  the  place 
where  the  battery  had  fought,  on  the  left  of  the  clump  of  trees,  accepted  the 
proposal  of  the  Smith  Granite  Company,  of  Westerly,  R.  I.,  for  a  granite 
monument,  with  an  inscription,  briefly  describing  the  service  of  the  battery, 
to  be  cut  upon  the  side  of  the  monument,  and  to  have  affixed  to  the  opposite 
side  a  bronze  tablet,  representing  in  high  bas  relief,  one  of  the  guns,  at  the 
moment  when  firing  "  double  canister  at  ten  yards."  The  suggestion  for  this 
bas  relief  was  given  in  a.  letter  by  Colonel  Cowan  to  the  secretary  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, in  which  he  described  the  appearance  of  one  of  the  guns  at  the  crisis  of 
the  charge  upon  the  battery,  as  follows: 

"  Young  McElroy  had  thrust  the  canister  into  the  muzzle  and  fell  dead  in 
front  of  the  wheel,  with  three  rifle  balls  in  his  face.  Gates  rammed  the  charge 
home  and  springing  back,  fell  shot  through  both  legs.  Bassenden  sprang 
forward  to  seize  the  sponge  staff.  Sears  (W.  A.)  pricked  the  cartridge  and 
was  ready  to  fire  at  the  word.  Little  "Aleck  "  McKenzie,  the  corporal,  was 
running  down  the  sight,  to  meet  the  enemy  just  crossing  the  demolished  stone 
wall  ten  yards  away,  and  as  he  signaled  "  Fire! "  he  fell  across  the  trail  of  the 
gun,  wounded.  The  leading  horses  of  the  gun  were  both  down.  The  nigh 
horse  of  the  swing-team  was  also  shot,  but  the  wheel-team  stood  unhurt;  and 
mounted  there  was  the  driver,  that  '  wild  Irishman,'  '  Mike '  Smith,  crazy 
with  excitement. 

"  Mike  Smith  was  a  hero  then  for  the  only  moment  of  his  whole  life.  He 
had  doubtless  scrambled  upon  his  horse  with  a  confused  idea  of  escaping,  when 
he  caught  sight  of  an  Irish  flag  at  the  right  of  the  trees.  Instantly  raising 
himself  in  the  stirrups  and  waving  his  whip,  with  wild  excitement,  he  shouted, 
'  Hurrah  for  the  ould  flag.'  An  Irish  flag  carried  by  a  regiment*  of  Webb's 
Brigade,  had  just  then  appeared  where  Webb  and  others  were  gallantly  rally- 
ing their  men." 

The  monument  was  erected  according  to  contract.  The  survivors  of  the 
battery  came  from  widely-separated  sections  of  the  country,  but  chiefly  from 
Cayuga  County,  of  New  York,  to  witness  the  dedication.  The  Second  Separate 
Company,  National  Guard,  State  of  New  York,  Capt.  W.  M.  Kirby,  escorted 
the  surviving  members  of  the  battery  from  Auburn  to  Gettysburg,,  and  formed 
a  brilliant  part  of  the  pageant  which  was  gathered  about,  the  monument  when 
the  dedicatory  exercises  were  commenced.    There  were  present,  as  friends  and 

♦  Sixty-ninth  Pennsylvania. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1281 

invited  guests,  Gen.  Jlenry  J.  Hunt,  the  distinguished  chief  of  artillery  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac;  Gen.  William  F.  Smith,  who  commanded  the  division 
and  afterwards  the  Sixth  Corps,  with  which  the  battery  had  served  through- 
out the  war;  Major  General  Carr,  of  the  New  York  Monuments  Commission; 
Colonel  Bachelder,  historian  of  the  battlefield  of  Gettysburg;  Mrs.  Gen.  George 
Pickett,  widow  of  the  great  general  who  had  led  the  assault;  and  also  Gen. 
W.  R.  Aylet,  Major  Crocker,  and  other  survivors  of  Pickett's  famous  division; 
ol.  J.  M.  Schoonmaker,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  and  several  citizens  of  Auburn, 
N.  Y.,  the  home  of  the  battery, 

81 


1282  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


" ,  "•  '■  . :   ;  ) 


{INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

3rd  N.  Y. 

INDEPENDENT  BATTERY 

ARTILLERY  BRIGADE      ' 

SIXTH  CORPS 

July  2  &  3,  1863 

(Reverse.) 

Forced  march  36  miles.   Second  position. 

No  Losses 

Mustered  ik  May  21,  1861,  participating 

IN  ALL  the  Campaigns  of  the  Army  of 

the  Potomac  to  the  end  of  the  War 


mmrngm 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1283 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

3d  independent  BATTERY —  "  HARN'S." 

July  3,  i888. 

Historical  Sketch  by  Sergt.  William  A.  Moore. 

Prior  to  the  war  of  1861-65  it  was  considered  the  proper  thing  for  a  militia 
regiment  of  infantry  to  have  one  of  its  companies  equipped  and  drilled  as 
artillery,  or  some  other  arm  of  the  service.  In  accordance  with  this  custom 
Company  D,  of  the  Second, Militia  Infantry,  was  organized  as  a  howitzer  com- 
pany, and  when  the  regiment  enlisted  for  the  war  it  enlisted  also.  Under 
command  of  Capt.  Thaddeus  P.  Mott,  this  company  left  the  State,  May  19, 
1861,  accompanying  the  Second  Mihtia  (Eighty-second  New  York  Volunteers) 
to  Washington,  where  it  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  three 
years,  on  June  17,  1861.  It  was  detached  from  the  regiment  soon  after  and 
organized  as  a  battery  of  light  artillery;  for,  the  combination  of  different  arms 
of  the  service  in  one  regiment  was  not  tolerated  in  the  organization  of  the  army. 

The  company  was  known  temporarily  as  Battery  B,  New  York  Artillery; 
but  on  December  7,  1861,  it  was  designated  by  the  State  authorities  as  the 
Third  New  York  Independent  Battery,  Light  Artillery.  It  received  an  equip- 
ment of  six  field  pieces,  four  of  the  guns  being  ten-pounder  Parrotts,  and  two 
of  them  brass  Napoleons,  or  twelve-pounders.  The  battery  was  stationed  at 
Chain  Bridge,  Va.,  and  assigned  to  Smith's  Brigade,  with  which  it  went  into 
its  first  action,  a  reconnoissance  on  September  11,  1861,  at  Lewinsville,  Va. 
No  casualties  were  sustained  in  this  affair. 

After  spending  the  winter  within  the  defences  of  Washington  the  battery 
embarked  March  17,  1862,  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  sailing  down  the  Potomac 
landed  at  Fort  Monroe,  preparatory  to  the  Peninsular  campaign.  It  was  now 
attached  to  Smith's  Division,  Fourth  Corps,  with  which  it  served  at  the  siege 
of  Yorktown  and  in  the  engagement  at  Lee's  Mills,  on  the  Warwick  River, 
April  16,  1862.  In  the  latter  affair  Captain  Mott's  gunners  distinguished  them- 
selves by  the  accuracy  of  their  fire  and  the  efficiency  with  which  the  guns  were 
served.  The  first  loss  of  life  in  the  company  occurred  here,  3  of  the  men 
being  killed  and  7  wounded  in  this  action.  The  3  who  were  killed  were  cut 
down  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell  that  struck  a  wheel  of  one  of  the  guns,  others 
being  wounded  by  the  same  shell.  The  battery  received  flattering  mention 
in  the  official  reports  of  Generals  McClellan,  Smith,  Brooks,  and  Hancock, 
for  its  admirable  conduct  under  fire. 

It  was  engaged  soon  after  at  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  where  it  rendered 
good  service,  but  without  sustaining  any  losses.  In  May,  the  division  was 
transferred  to  the  newly-organized  Sixth  Corps, —  "  that  magnificent  body  of 
fighters  "  —  and  the  battery  served  in  this  corps  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  weeks  in  September  and  October,  1862,  while  it 
was  with  Couch's  Division  in  Maryland. 

It  was  actively  engaged  during  the  Seven  Days  Battle,  at  Golding's  Farm 
and  at  White  Oak  Swamp,  where  it  encountered  a  severe  fire,  losing  at  the  latter 


1284  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

place  5  men  killed,  2  wounded,  and  3  missing.  On  the  following  day,  although 
greatly  reduced  in  numbers,  it  took  position  in  the  front  line  at  Malvern  Hill. 
On  arriving  at  Harrison's  Landing  Captain  Mott  resigned,  and  Lieut.  William 
Stuart  succeeded  to  the  command,  receiving  a  commission  as  captain.  Upon 
the  withdrawal  of  the  army  from  the  Peninsula  the  battery  returned  to  Alex- 
andria, Va.,  whence  it  started  on  the  Maryland  campaign.  On  September  15, 
1862,  it  was  attached  to  Couch's  Division  of  the  Fourth  Corps,  with  which  two 
sections  of  the  battery  marched  to  the  relief  of  Harper's  Ferry,  while  the  other 
section,  under  Lieut.  Alexander  S.  Thompson,  took  an  active  part  in  the  battle 
of  Antietam.  But  in  a  few  weeks  the  entire  battery  was  ordered  back  to  the 
Second  Division  (Howe's)  of  the  Sixth  Corps. 

Under  command  of  Lieut.  William  A.  Ham,  of  the  First  New  York  Artil- 
lery, the  battery  participated  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  December  13-14, 
1862.  Its  armament  in  this  action  consisted  of  four  ten-pounder  rifled  guns 
(Parrotts).  It  took  position  on  Stafford  Heights,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Rappahannock  River,  overlooking  Fredericksburg,  from  which  position  it 
aided  in  the  assault  of  Sumner's  Grand  Division  on  the  impregnable  works 
of  the  enemy  on  Marye's  Heights.  After  this  battle  the  army  went  into  winter 
quarters,  the  Sixth  Corps  occupying  the  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  White  Oak 
Church,  where  it  remained  until  the  Chancellorsville  campaign.  General  Sedg- 
wick succeeded  Franklin  in  command  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  and  General  Hooker 
was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Under  Hooker's  care  the 
army  was  better  fed,  clothed,  and  drilled  than  at  any  time  during  the  war,  and 
attained  the  highest  degree  of  efficiency.  The  battery  shared  in  the  general 
improvement,  and  among  other  things  received  two  additional  ten-pounder 
Parrotts,  bringing  its  armament  up  to  the  maximum  strength  again  of  six 
guns,  all  of  them  rifled  pieces. 

The  battery  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Marye's  Heights,  May  3,  1863, 
having  crossed  the  river  and  taken  a  position  in  the  town  —  Fredericksburg  — 
on  the  right  of  the  railroad  near  the  gas  works.  It  was  the  first  battery  to  reach 
the  enemy's  position  when  the  infantry  carried  their  works.  The  assault  of 
the  Sixth  Corps  on  the  Heights  proving  successful,  the  troops  pushed  on  to- 
wards Chancellorsville,  and  encountered  the  enemy  again  at  Salem  Church, 
where  Lieutenant  Ham  and  his  men  again  brought  their  guns  into  action  with 
marked  effect.    Here  the  battery  repulsed  a  charge  of  the  Confederate  infantry. 

On  June  4,  1863,  Ham  was  commissioned  captain  of  the  battery,  Stuart 
having  been  dismissed  April  13th. 

Leaving  its  camp  at  White  Oak  Church,  the  Sixth  Corps  started  June  5th 
on  the  series  of  movements  and  long  marches  that  culminated  in  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg.  The  march  proper  commenced  on  the  14th,  at  which  time  the 
battery  left  Stafford  Heights,  Va.,  and  marched  northward  through  Dumfries 
and  Fairfax.  Captain  Harn  received  his  commission  on  June  20th  while  the 
battery  was  resting  at  Fairfax,  where  it  encamped  for  five  days.  Leaving 
Fairfax  on  the  24th,  and  moving  via  Centreville,  Dranesville,  Edwards  Ferry 
on  the  Potomac,  Poolesville,  Md.,  Hyattstown,  Westminster,  and  Manchester, 
the  battery  arrived  on  the  battlefield  of  Gettysburg  about  noon  of  the  second 
day,  having  accompanied  Sedgwick's  men  in  their  famous  night  march  prior 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1285 

to  their  arrival  on  the  field.  The  Sixth  Corps  marched  from  Manchester  to 
Gettysburg,  a  distance  of  thirty-seven  miles,  with  scarcely  a  halt.  On  the  after- 
noon of  the  third  day  it  was  hurried  into  position,  as  Pickett's  charge  developed, 
on  the  right  and  rear  of  Hays'  Division,  Second  Corps,  which  received  the 
brunt  of  that  attack.  On  July  sth  it  joined  in  pursuit  of  Lee's  retreating  army, 
and  in  company  with  the  famous  Vermont  Brigade,  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  opened 
fire  on  his  rear  guard  at  different  times  during  the  day.  At  Fairfield  Pass 
Harn's  guns  concentrated  their  fire  on  Lee's  troops,  as  they  were  defiling  over 
the  mountain.  On  the  loth  it  was  engaged  again  with  the  rear  guard  of  the 
enemy  at  Funkstown.  Recrossing  the  Potomac  on  July  19th,  the  battery  ac- 
companied the  Sixth  Corps  and  the  army  in  the  movement  through  Virginia  to 
Warrenton.  In  the  Gettysburg  campaign  it  numbered  4  officers  and  115 
enlisted  men  present  for  duty. 

The  battery  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Rappahannock  Station,  and  took 
part  in  the  Mine  Run  campaign,  after  which  it  encamped  for  the  winter  at 
Brandy  Station,  Va.  Here  Captain  Ham,  with  the  most  of  his  men,  re-enlisted 
for  the  war,  and  returned  to  New  York  on  a  "  veteran  furlough  "  of  thirty  days. 

On  May  4,  1864,  the  battery,  now  equipped  with  six  brass  guns  —  twelve- 
pounder  Napoleons,  smooth  bores  —  started  on  the  Wilderness  campaign, 
leaving  its  winter's  camp  at  daylight.  The  campaign  was  one  in  which  for  a 
year  the  army  was  to  know  no  rest  or  respite,  and  during  which  they  were  to 
be  for  eleven  months  under  fire  almost  daily.  The  battery  was  not  in  action 
at  the  Wilderness,  the  forest  preventing  the  use  of  artillery  to  any  extent;  but 
at  Spotsylvania,  May  12th,  it  was  actively  engaged  and  fired  843  rounds. 
Private  Arnutt  was  killed  in  this  battle.  Harn's  cannon  opened  fire  again  on 
the  14th  at  Po  River,  where  they  fired  120  shots.  On  the  i6th,  orders  were 
issued  reducing  the  batteries  of  light  artillery  to  4  guns,  whereupon  Captain 
Harn  turned  in  2  guns  and  limbers  and  12  horses.  On  the  21st  the  men  fired 
121  rounds  at  Anderson's  Farm,  near  the  Po  River. 

On  June  ist  the  battery  was  engaged  at  Cold  Harbor,  in  the  evening,  where 
Private  Russell  was  killed.  On  the  following  day  the  guns  were  in  action  all 
day,  during  which  Corporal  Connelly  fell  dead  beside  his  gun,  and  Private 
Johnson  was  wounded. 

The  battery  moved  out  of  its  works  at  Cold  Harbor  at  i  o'clock  in  the 
morning  on  June  13th,  marching  with  the  rear  guard  of  the  army  on  its  way 
to  the  James  River  and  Petersburg.  Crossing  the  James,  June  i6th,  on  the 
pontoons,  the  men  marched  all  night,  and  the  next  day  placed  their  guns  in 
battery  before  Petersburg.  On  the  19th  and  20th  Harn's  gunners  were  actively 
engaged,  firing  344  rounds  of  shell  and  solid  shot.  On  the  29th  the  battery 
accompanied  the  corps  in  its  movement  to  the  Weldon  Railroad. 

The  Sixth  Corps  having  been  ordered  to  the  Shenahdoah  Valley,  the  bat- 
tery accompanied  it  to  City  Point,  on  the  James  River,  and  embarked,  July 
13th,  on  transports  for  Baltimore,  whence  it  went  by  cars  to  Camp  Barry,  at 
Washington.  But  it  was  immediately  ordered  to  return  to  City  Point,  and 
re-embarking,  arrived  there  on  the  19th.  Returning  to  Petersburg,  the  guns 
were  placed  in  the  exposed  position  known  to  the  troops  as  "  Fort  Hell ",  and 
trained  on  the  enemy's  works.    It  was  here  that  General  De  Trobriand  noticed 


1286  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

the  accuracy  of  its  fire,  and  invited  Lieut.  George  P.  Fitzgerald,  then  com- 
manding, to  show  his  skill  in  firing.  Out  of  six  attempts  the  lieutenant  struck 
the  Rebel  flagstaff  with  a  twelve-pound  solid  shot  three  times  at  a  distance 
of  600  yards.  During  the  period  from  May  4  to  July  31,  1864,  including  the 
campaign  from  the  Wilderness  to  Petersburg,  the  battery  fired  2,635  rounds 
of  ammunition,  of  which  855  were  fired  at  Cold  Harbor.  For  his  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  during  many  campaigns,  Captain  Harn  was  honored  with 
a  commission  as  brevet  major. 

The  battery  was  prominently  engaged  in  the  fighting  which  resulted  in  the 
fall  of  Petersburg,  April  2,  1865.  In  the  advance  of  the  line  of  the  Sixth 
Corps,  on  March  25th,  one  section  of  the  battery  under  Lieut.  George  P. 
Fitzgerald  rendered  effective  service,  and  received  honorable  mention  in  the 
official  report  of  Colonel  Damon,  of  the  Tenth  Vermont,  who  says :  "  At 
about  sunset,  by  direction  of  General  Seymour,  I  proceeded  to  the  left  of  the 
picket  line  with  a  section  of  the  Third  New  York  Independent  Battery  and 
150  men  of  the  Fifth  Vermont,  for  the  purpose  of  dislodging  a  body  of  the 
enemy's  sharpshooters,  who  were  in  and  about  a  house  situated  on  the  Rebel 
picket  line,  from  which  position  they  were  enabled  to  annoy  our  men  by  an 
enfilading  fire.  This  section  of  artillery  was  placed  in  position  on  an  open 
piece  of  ground  at  about  600  yards  from  the  house,  and  opened  fire  v.ith  both 
solid  shot  and  shell,  riddling  the  house  and  driving  everything  from  it." 

On  Simday,  April  2,  1865,  the  battery  broke  camp  at  Fort  Urmston,  at  3  a.  m., 
and  reported  to  General  Getty,  commanding  Second  Division,  Sixth  Corps, 
it  having  been  designated  as  one  of  the  five  batteries  that  were  to  assist  in  the 
assa'ult  on  Fort  Fisher.  The  men  of  the  battery  moved,  without  their  guns, 
with  the  infantry  of  the  Sixth  Corps  in  their  grand  charge  upon  the  Unes  of 
Petersburg,  and  turned  the  enemy's  guns  upon  their  fleeing  owners.  In  this 
affair  two  men  in  the  battery  were  wounded,  one  of  them,  Louis  Adam,  losing 
his  right  arm.  The  battery  accompanied  the  corps  in  its  pursuit  of  Lee's  re- 
treating army,  and  at  Sailor's  Creek  aided  greatly  in  securing  the  decisive 
victory  of  that  day. 

Of  the  338  batteries  which  the  United  States  had  in  the  field,  this  battery 
ranks  seventeen  in  point  of  losses,  while  in  efficiency  and  discipline  it  was  un- 
surpassed. Gen.  Charles  H.  Tompkins,  chiff  of  artillery.  Sixth  Corps,  in  a 
letter  written  April  17,  1888,  says:  "  The  war  record  of  the  battery  is  second 
to  none  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Every  surviving  officer  and  man  is  justly 
entitled  to  feel  a  pride  in  having  been  one  of  its  members.  I  recall  with  pleasure 
the  valuable  services  which  it  rendered  during  the  time  I  had  the  honor  of 
commanding  the  Artillery  Brigade  of  the  Sixth  Corps." 

The  Third  New  York  Independent  Battery  participated  with  honorable 
record  in  the  following  battles  and  skirmishes:  Lewinsville,  Va.,  September 
II,  1861;  Lee's  Mills,  Va.,  April  16,  1862;  WilHamsburg,  Va.,  May  5,  1862; 
Golding's  Farm,  Va.,  June  28,  1862;  White  Oak  Swamp,  Va.,  June  30,  1862; 
Malvern  Hill,  Va.,  July  i,  1862;  Crampton's  Gap,  Md.,  September  14,  1862;  An- 
tietam,  Md.,  September  17,  1862;  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  December  13,  1862; 
Marye's  Heights,  Va.,  May  3,  1863;  Salem  Church,  Va.,  May  4-5,  1863;  Get- 
tysburg, Pa.,  July  2-3,  1863;  Fairfield,  Pa.,  July  6,  1863;  Funkstown,  Md., 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1287 

July  8,  1863;  Rappahannock  Station,  Va.,  November  7,  1863;  Mine  Run,  Va., 
November  29,  1863;  Wilderness,  Va.,  May  5-6,  1864;  Spotsylvania,  Va.,  May 
10-12,  1864;  North  Anna,  Va.,  May  23,  1864;  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  June  i,  1864; 
Siege  of  Petersburg,  Va.,  June,  1864  —  April,  1865;  Fall  of  Petersburg,  Va., 
April  I,  1865;  Sailor's  Creek,  Va.,  April  6,  1865;  and  Appomattox,  Va.,  April 
9,  1865. 

At  the  close  of  its  service  the  battery's  officers  were:  William  A.  Ham,  cap- 
tain and  brevet  major;  and  Lieuts.  Alexander  McLain,  George  W.  Kellogg, 
George  P.  Fitzgerald  and  Leon  Rheims.  First  Lieut.  Henry  M.  Fitzgerald 
was  mustered  out  previously,  October  6,  1864,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  enlistment. 

The  war  was  over,  and  the  veteran  artillerists  of  the  Third  Battery,  who  had 
served  from  the  beginning  to  the  end,  returned  to  New  York,  where  they  were 
mustered  out  June  24,  1865.  The  men  resumed  their  citizen  life,  and  the 
gallant  old  battery  ceased  to  exist  except  on  the  pages  of  history. 


1288  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

{INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

4th  new  YORK 

INDPT  BATTERY       ^ 

(Smith's) 

ARTILLERY  BRIGADE 

3d  CORPS. 

July  2,  1863  —  2  to  5  p.  k. 

(Reverse.) 

Casualties 
2  Killed,  10  Wounded 
I  Captured, 


At  the  time  of  the  assault 
BY  Hood's  Division  of  the 

Confederate  Army  this 

Battery  supported  by  the 

Fourth  Maine  Infantry 

formed  the  extreme  left 

of  the  Third  Corps  line. 

Three  guns  of  the  two  sections 

IN  action  on  this  crest  were 

captured  by  the  confederates. 

The  Third  section  was  in 

position  to  the  right  and 

keae  and  continued  the  action 

until  nearly  6  P.  M. 


New  York  at  Gettysbvrg.  1289 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

4th  independent  BATTERY,—"  SMITH'S." 

July  2,  1888. 

The  Fourth  Battery  at  Gettysburg,  by  Capt.  James  E,  Smith. 

It  was  June,  1863.  The  march  through  Maryland  was  the  most  dehghtful 
we  had  made  during  our  service.  It  was  harvest  time;  the  weather  was  superb, 
and  the  roads  fairly  good  through  a  beautiful  country  which  had  tasted  but 
little  of  the  destructive  havoc  of  war.  The  old  familiar  sights  of  great  fields 
of  yellow  wheat,  orchards  loaded  with  fruit,  wide,  green  stretches  of  pasture 
and  meadOw-land,  snug  farmhouses  and  huge,  red-roofed  barns,  made  it  seem 
a  pleasure  trip  after  the  hardships  of  the  campaign  in  Virginia.  Then  the 
boys  very  soon  discovered  that  there  was  a  very  fair  supply  of  most  excellent 
apple-jack  along  the  route,  as  this  was  considered  by  the  farmers  a  prime 
necessity  in  the  arduous  labors  of  harvest.  It  is  true  it  was  a  little  difficult  to 
get  at,  as  these  rural  citizens  had  doubtless  heard  of  the  partiality  ever  showm 
by  soldiers  towards  this  famous  Southern  commodity.  It  was  usually  hidden 
in  various  out-of-the-way  places  about  the  farms,  and  it  required  much  in- 
genious diplomacy  to  ascertain  the  whereabouts  of  the  concealed  treasure. 

A  source  of  constant  enjoyment  was  the  Third  Corps  Band,  which  appeared 
to  be  ubiquitous.  They  were  always  in  the  lead  on  the  march,  and  yet  when 
passing  through  the  numerous  villages  on  our  route  we  would  find  them 
located  on  some  balcony  or  front  porch  or  grouped  around  the  town  pump 
discoursing  lively  martial  airs  as  we  gayly  passed  by  with  banners  flying  and 
singing  loyal  songs,  while  ladies  and  children  would,  sometimes,  be  waving 
handkerchiefs  from  their  door-yards. 

It  was,  indeed,  a  gay  and  jolly  march,  such  as  seldom  fell  to  our  lot;  but  to 
many  brave  boys  it  was  a  march  to  death,  for  its  end  was  the  bloodiest  field  of 
the  war  —  Gettysburg,  and  but  two  days  away. 

We  reached  Emmitsburg,  Md.,  in  the  afternoon  of  July  ist,  and  after  a  short 
halt  the  corps  moved  forward  towards  the  Pennsylvania  line,  while  my  bat- 
tery and  Winslow's  were  left  here  with  Burling's  and  De  Trobriand's  Brigades 
to  guard  the  Hagerstown  Road. 

About  1 :30  on  the  morning  of  the  fateful  2d  of  July,  orders  were  received 
from  General  Meade  to  rejoin  the  corps  at  Gettysburg,  eleven  miles  away. 

It  required  some  time  to  withdraw  the  pickets,  therefore,  it  was  4  a.  m.  before 
we  were  ready  to  move  forward,  rejoining  the  corps  and  division  at  9  o'clock, 

a.  m. 

As  we  approached  the  ground  between  the  two  armies  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
"  Peach  Orchard,"  I  noticed  that  the  fences  had  been  cleared  away,  and  all 
preparations  made  that  usually  precede  a  battle;  even  then  the  pickets  and 
skirmishers  were  uneasy  and  kept  up  a  desultory  fire,  little  pufifs  of  thin  blue 
smoke  dotting  the  plain  before  us,  indicating  quite  distinctly  the  respective 
lines  of  the  two  greatest  armies  on  earth,  at  this  hour. 


1290  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Before  reaching  the  "  Orchard  "  an  aide  came  towards  us  from  the  direction 
of  the  "  Wheatfield,"  riding  at  great  speed  and  waving  a  white  handkerchief 
to  attract  our  attention.  A  halt  was  made  in  consequence,  and  we  then  learned 
that  our  position  was  equi-distant  between  the  two  lines  and  somewhat  critical. 

No  time  was  lost  in  leaving  the  Emmitsburg  Road,  moving  due  east  as  far 
as  the  "  Wheatfield,"  into  which  the  battery  was  taken  and  parked.  About  i 
o'clock,  p.  m.,  Capt.  G.  E.  Randolph,  chief  of  Third  Corps  Artillery,  piloted 
the  battery  to  "  Devil's  Den,"  pointing  to  a  steep  and  rocky  ridge  running 
north  and  south,  indicating  that  my  guns  were  to  find  location  thereon. 

From  the  termination  of  the  ridge  at  the  "  Den  "  to  the  woods  dividing  the 
"  Wheatfield  "  from  the  valley  of  Plum  Run,  the  distance  was  not  more  than 
fifty  yards.  Here  I  could  not  place  more  than  four  guns  on  the  crest.  In 
rear  of  this  ridge  the  ground  descended  sharply  to  the  east,  leaving  no  room 
for  the  limbers  on  the  crest;  therefore,  they  were  posted  as  near  to  the  guns 
as  the  nature  of  the  declivity  permitted.  The  remaining  two  guns  were  sta- 
tioned in  rear  about  seventy-five  yards,  where  they  could  be  used  to  advantage, 
covering  the  Plum  Run  Gorge  passage,  which  lies  to  the  south  of  and  below 
the  crest. 

The  four  guns  could  not  be  depressed  to  reach  troops  moving  through  the 
gorge,  hence  the  necessity  for  this  arrangement. 

Two  regiments  of  infantry,  viz.,  the  Fourth  Maine,  Colonel  Walker,  and 
the  One  hundred  and  twenty-fourth  New  York,  Colonel  Ellis,  were  formed 
so  as  to  cover  the  open  space  between  the  woods  and  the  base  of  Round  Top, 
the  former  being  on  the  extreme  left,  while  the  latter,  the  "  Orange  Blossoms," 
were  directly  in  rear  of  the  four  guns. 

I  felt  anxious  about  our  left  flank  and  made  an  efifort  to  get  some  infantry 
posted  in  the  woods  along  the  base  of  Round  Top,  but  as  the  enemy  gave  little 
time  foi  reflection,  my  attention  was  occupied  in  looking  after  the  battery,  and 
replying  to  the  concentrated  fire  of  a  number  of  guns. 

This  artillery  battle  began  about  2  p.  m.,  and  was  a  trial  of  skill  between 
artillerists.  The  accuracy  of  the  enemy's  aim  was  astonishing,  while  that  of 
the  gunners  of  the  battery  may  be  judged  from  the  reports  of  those  who  have 
the  best  right  to  know.    (See  Confederate  reports.) 

About  3:30  o'clock  the  enemy's  infantry  appeared  in  line  of  battle,  moving 
directly  upon  the  Round  Tops.  The  four  guns  were  now  used  to  oppose  and 
cripple  this  attack,  and  check  it  as  far  as  possible.  I  never  saw  the  men  do 
better  woik;  every  shot  told.  The  pieces  were  discharged  as  rapidly  as  they 
could  be,  with  regard  to  effectiveness,  while  the  conduct  of  the  men  was  superb; 
but  when  the  enemy  approached  to  within  300  yards  of  our  position,  the  many 
obstacles  in  our  front  afforded  him  excellent  protection  for  his  sharpshooters, 
who  soon  had  our  guns  under  control.  At  the  fence  at  the  base  of  the  slope, 
which  gently  declines  to  the  west  in  front,  they  make  a  short  halt,  then  press 
on;  we  use  canister  without  sponging,  but  are  firing  at  a  disadvantage  for  the 
reason  just  stated,  to  save  the  guns.  Colonel  Ellis  and  Colonel  Walker  now 
advance  their  commands,  and,  dashing  through  the  battery,  charge  upon  the 
Confederates  with  great  impetuosity.  My  fire  is  withheld  until  the  front  is 
uncovered  by  the  falling  back  of  the  "  Orange  Blossoms  "  and    the    Fdurth 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1291 

Maine;  again  the  artillerists  spring  to  their  guns;  the  Ninety-ninth  Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers  move  along  a  point  in  rear  of  the  guns,  and  boldly  take  position 
above  the  Den. 

The  Fourth  Maine  on  the  left,  with  a  line  across  the  mouth  of  the  Gorge, 
have  been  forced  back;  the  situation  is  most  critical;  I  ask  for  assistance. 
General  Hunt  has  told  me  how  important  it  is  to  hold  this  position  to  the  last. 
The  enemy  are  pressing  on  the  left,  while  those  in  front  and  to  the  right-front 
are  advancing  skirmishers.    My  guns  are  again  in  danger  of  capture. 

The  brave  "Orange  Blossoms"  have  been  withdrawn;  the  Fourth  Maine 
and  the  Ninety-ninth  Pennsylvania  have  retired.  In  reply  to  my  earnest  plea 
for  help  I  have  been  asked  to  hold  on  for  thirty  minutes,  when  succor  wotdd 
surely  come;  if  the  guns  are  to  be  saved  it  must  be  done  now  at  the  risk  of 
exposing  our  weakness.  What  is  best  to  do  under  the  circumstances  becomes 
a  momentous  question. 

I, finally  determine  to  consume  the  time  it  will  take  to  remove  the  guns  in 
fighting  them,  and  thus  trade  them  for  time,  if  it  becomes  necessary.  The 
men  are  instructed  to  remove  all  implements  if  they  are  compelled  to  fall  back, 
so  that  our  pieces  may  not  be  turned  against  us.-  The  bold  front  presented 
by  the  battery  causes  the  enemy  to  approach  it  gingerly;  but  alas;  we  are 
flanked  by  the  enemy  moving  through  the  Gorge  by  the  right  flank;  our  four 
pieces  are  now  useless,  but  the  two  in  rear  can  be  of  service.  I  run  with  all 
the  speed  in  me  and  open  fire  with  these  two  guns  on  the  troops  coming 
through  the  Gorge. 

The  enemy  are  taken  by  surprise;  their  battle  flag  drops  three  different 
times  from  the  effect  of  our  canister.  Thrice  their  line  wavers  and  seeks 
shelter  in  the  woods,  but  in  a  moment  they  return  in  a  solid  mass.  The  Sixth 
New  Jersey  moves  forward  from  the  "  Wheatfield  "  across  my  front,  cutting 
off  the  fire  of  the  two  pieces;  then  the  Fortieth  New  York  passes  through  the 
park  of  the  horses  and  carriages  stationed  near  the  position  occupied  by  the 
two  guns,  and  attacks  Benning's  Brigade. 

I  now  conclude  to  save  the  balance  of  the  battery,, if  possible,  and  have  the 
fence  lowered  that  it  may  pass  through  to  the  "  Wheatfield,"  but  still  hold  it 
ready  to  make  a  further  sacrifice,  if  deemed  necessary.  The  four  guns  remain 
suspended,  as  it  were,  on  the  crest  between  the  lines.  I  appeal  to  Colonel  Egan 
to  save  them;  he  promises,  but  fails  to  fulfill  his  promise;  the  odds  are  too 
great  against  us.  j^ 

The  men  have  faced  every  danger.  Two  brave  men  can  do  more  than  one; 
the  one  is  on  our  side,  the  two  are  opposed  to  us.  Finally,  the  Federal  in- 
fantry fall  back.  I  have  sent  the  carriages  into  the  woods,  and  closely  watch 
th?  enemy's  movements. 

At  this  time  the  report  of  Hazlett's  guns,  from  the  summit  of  Little  Round 
Top,  announces  the  arrival  of  assistance;  none  too  soon,  for  Benning's  Brigade, 
after  pushing  through  the  Gorge,  is  about  to  cross  the  "  Valley  of  Death  "  to 
take  possession  of  the  goal  for  which  he  has  been  fighting  for  more  than  two 
hours.  The  race  is  a  sharp  one;  the  Federals  win  it.  The  two  guns  are  run 
through  the  woods,  and,  seeing  Winslow's  Battery  in  position,  I  take  position 
on  his  right  just  as  he  limbers  up  and  retires. 


1292  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Looking  for  the  cause,  I  perceive  the  enemy  swarming  from  the  woods,  and 
I  lose  no  time  in  falling  back. 

Before  the  crest  was  abandoned  one  of  the  four  guns,  having  been  disabled, 
was  withdrawn;  this  left  but  three,  and  these  were  taken  off  by  the  enemy 
after  dark.  ' 

I  mistook  the  "  Orange  Blossoms  "  for  the  Fourth  Maine,  who  were  in  our 
immediate  rear  when  the  artillery  duel  was  opened,  and  in  my  official  report 
make  no  mention  of  this  gallant  regiment,  whose  daring  charge  rendered  such 
valuable  and  timely  assistance. 

At  no  time  during  the  day  had  we  more  than  two  regiments  of  foot  at  one 
time  engaged  in  defending  this  important  point.  The  battery  was  on  the  ground 
from  2  until  6  o'clock,  p.  m. 

By  a  careful  comparison  of  the  official  reports  herewith,  it  is  shown  that  the 
impression  of  many  of  the  Confederates  is  erroneous  as  to  Little  Round  Top's 
occupation  by  Federals,  and  that  they  suffered  from  the  fire  of  guns  on  its 
summit  while  advancing  to  the  assault  of  Devil's  Den.  If  this  was  true,  then 
those  who  were  on  the  line  at  the  Den  must  have  known  it,  as  the  fire  from 
Little  Round  Top  would  have  to  pass  over  their  heads. 

In  conclusion,  let  me  say  in  further  explanation  of  the  loss  of  my  guns,  that 
three  times  during  the  day  I  could  have  withdrawn  them  without  giving 
grounds  for  censure.  It  has  usually  been  considered  proper  to  retire  a  field 
battery  when  its  infantry  support  falls  back.  Had  this  course  been  adopted 
the  guns  might  have  been  saved,  but  the  delay  imposed  upon  the  enemy  was 
of  inestimable  value  to  the  Federal  army  and  more  than  offset  the  loss  of  the 
pieces.  For  instance,  forty  minutes  elapsed  between  the  departure  of  the  in- 
fantry from  the  ridge  and  the  arrival  of  the  two  regiments  at  the  position  in 
rear  of  it.  Every  one  of  those  minutes  contained  sixty  seconds  and  into  each 
second  was  crowded  a  lifetime. 

It  had  not  occurred  to  me  to  save  the  battery;  indeed,  I  could  not  see  how 
I  was  to  do  it  without  abandoning  the  defence  of  the  Valley  and  Little  Round 
Top,  but  the  arrival  of  the  Sixth  New  Jersey  and  the  Fortieth  New  York 
Volunteers  changed  the  situation  somewhat.  I  felt  that  the  responsibility  was, 
at  least,  divided. 

A  few  minutes  before  leaving  the  last  position  my  horse  was  killed,  which 
led  to  a  ludicrous  incident  at  my  expense.  I  wore  boots  with  a  stiff  leg  to  the 
knee,  and  a  light  calf  leg  lined  with  white  morocco  reaching  to  the  hip.  When 
dismounted  the  upper  part  was  rolled  in  a  manner  to  form  a  top-boot;  becom- 
ing disarranged  during  the  battle  the  roll  relapsed  so  that  from  the  knee  to 
the  ankle  the  appearance  was  that  of  boots  with  white  legs.  Lieutenant  Good- 
man, seeing  that  I  was  without  a  mount,  kindly  gave  me  the  use  of  his  horse 
so  that  I  might  reach  the  head  of  the  column  then  moving  through  the  woods. 
While  moving  back  from  the  position  taken  on  Winslow's  right,  one  of  the 
men  caught  me  by  the  leg,  exclaiming,  "Captain,  you're  shot!"  Glancing 
down  I  saw  that  the  boot  was  covered  with  blood,  and  located  the  supposed 
wound  in  the  calf  of  the  right  leg.  The  limb  began  to  pain,  and  I  plainly  felt 
the  blood  running  into  the  boot.  I  moved  my  toes  and  the  red  liquid  swashed 
between  them.    The  foot  and  the  limb  were  much  swollen,  I  imagined,  and  I 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1293 

became  anxious  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  the  damage;  therefore,  at  the  first 
available  moment  I  was  down.  Calling  one  of  the  men  to  assist  in  drawing 
ofif  the  boot  (scolding  him  for  causing,  unnecessarily,  extra  pain  by  his  care- 
lessness, while  doing  so)  I  patiently  and  calmly  resigned  myself  to  the  inevi- 
table. The  boot  being  removed,  and  no  sign  of  blood  found,  I  quickly  glanced 
at  the  man  who  had  drawn  it  and  saw  on  his  face  a  broad  grin.    I  hastily  said. 

Let  me  tell  this  story  first,  please." 

Searching  for  an  explanation,  it  was  discovered  that  the  horse  was  shot  in 
the  flank,  and  by  spurring,  the  boot-leg  had  come  in  contact  with  the  blood 
which  flowed  from  the  wound.    Imagination  accomplished  the  rest. 

Another  incident  occurred  which,  under  the  circumstances,  was  amusing,  and 
goes  far  towards  displaying  the  comic  side  of  the  Irish  character.  At  a  time 
when  the  Rebel  riflemen  were  annoying  the  artillerists  from  their  concealed 
shelter  behind  the  large  boulders,  etc.,  Michael  Broderick,  detailed  from  the 
Eleventh  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  and  placed  as  driver  on  the  battery  wagon, 
left  his  team,  which  was  out  of  danger,  and  came  forward  to  the  crest  where 
things  were  a  little  lively,  and,  picking  up  a  musket  which  had  been  dropped 
by  one  of  the  infantry,  he  was  soon  engaged  with  a  foe  who  was  evidently 
behind  one  of  the  boulders  in  front.  Mike  was  oblivious  to  the  bullets  flying 
carelessly  about;  he  simply  had  an  eye  on  his  man,  and,  to  even  up  chances,  he 
too  sought  the  friendly  protection  of  a  large  rock.  His  strange  antics  first  at- 
tracted my  notice,  and  when  I  took  him  to  task  for  leaving  his  team,  his  reply 
was :  "  Let  me  stay  here,  captain,  sure  there  are  plenty  back  there  to  look  after 
the  horses."  I  said  no  more,  and  Mike  again  commenced  to  dance,  first  on 
one  side  of  the  rock  and  then  on  the  other,  challenging  his  man  to  come  out 
and  face  him;  then  he  would  dodge  behind  the  rock  to  avoid,  I  presume,  the 
privilege  of  stopping  a  bullet;  then  out  he  would  jump  again,  shouting  "  Come 
on,  now,  if  you  dare,  bad  luck  to  you."  He  was  thus  engaged  when  I  last 
noticed  him.  At  night  Mike  was  reported  missing,  but  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  3d  he  reported,  with  a  Rebel  musket  and  cartridge  belt,  stating  that  he 
had  been  taken  prisoner  and  placed  in  a  belt  of  timber  with  other  Federal 
soldiers.  Watching  his  chance,  he  noticed  the  guards  were  few  and  far  be- 
tween, and  when  opportunity  offered  he  quickly  found  a  belt  and  musket  and 
commenced  to  march  up  and  down  like  the  Confederate  guards  (his  slouch 
hat  and  old  blouse,  together  with  his  general  make-up,  aroused  no  suspicion, 
as  many  Rebels  were  dressed  similarly).  When  night  came  on  he  marched 
into  the  Federal  lines  and  reported  as  stated. 

The  battery  was  parked  on  the  Baltimore  Pike.  I  sent  to  the  Sixth  Corps 
for  a  surgeon  to  care  for  the  wounded.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  3d  I 
reported  three  guns  for  service  and  was  assigned  position  in  the  second  Une 
near  the  Third  Corps,  but  was  not  again  engaged  during  this  battle. 


1294  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


HISTORICAL  NOTES. 

The  Fourth  New  York  Independent  Battery  of  Light  Artillery  was  recruited 
and  organized  in  New  York  City  by  Capt.  James  E.  Smith,  who  had  previously 
served  as  a  lieutenant  in  Varian's  Battery,  which  was  attached  to  the  Eighth 
New  York  Militia.  This  battery  —  Varian's  —  enUsted  April  19,  1861,  for  three 
months,  and  went  to  the  front  immediately.  On  its  return  some  of  the  men 
re-enlisted  under  Captain  Smith. 

It  was  the  intention  that  the  newly-recruited  battery  should  be  attached  to 
Serrell's  Engineers  —  First  New  York  Engineers  —  as  an  artillery  company, 
with  engineer's  pay  at  $17  per  month,  and  many  of  the  recruits  were  enlisted 
under  this  inducement.  But  the  War  Department  refused  to  sanction  the 
arrangement. 

The  company  left  the  State,  October  26,  1861,  and  went  to  Washington, 
where  it  encamped  on  East  Capitol  Hill.  In  November  it  received  its  guns 
and  horses,  an  equipment  which  belonged  previously  to  a  Chicago  battery  that 
had  been  broken  up.  By  this  arrangement  Captain  Smith  obtained  four  ten- 
pounder  Parrotts  and  two  six-pounder  brass  guns. 

Drill  and  instruction  was  commenced,  and  when  the  spring  campaign  opened 
both  officers  and  men  were  proficient  in  their  duties  and  skillful  in  executing 
the  various  tactical  movements  peculiar  to  their  arm  of  the  service.  The  winter 
was  spent  in  camp  at  Budd's  Ferry,  Md.,  on  the  lower  Potomac,  the  battery 
having  been  assigned  to  Hooker's  Division,  Third  Corps. 

In  March,  1862,  the  command  moved  to  the  Peninsula,  three  schooners  being 
used  to  transport  the  cannon,  men,  and  horses.  After  taking  an  active  part  in 
the  siege  of  Yorktown,  the  battery  under  Captain  Smith  was  hotly  engaged 
at  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  where  it  lost  six  men  killed  and  wounded.  It 
participated  in  all  the  campaigns  of  the  Third  Corps  prior  to  the  Gettysburg 
campaign,  during  which  it  was  commanded  by  Lieut.  Joseph  E.  Nairn,  Captain 
Smith  having  been  appointed  chief  of  division  artillery.  But  in  June,  1863, 
Captain  Smith  resumed  command,  and  handled  the  battery  at  Gettysburg.  In 
that  action  it  lost  thirteen  men  killed  and  wounded,  and  through  the  bravery 
of  the  commander  and  his  men  rendered  most  valuable  service.  Its  efficiency 
on  that  memorable  field  is  fully  attested  in  the  official  reports  of  the  Confederate 
generals. 

A  few  days  after  the  battle  General  Hunt,  chief  of  artillery,  ordered  the  bat- 
tery to  Washington,  where  it  was  to  exchange  its  ordnance  stores  and  refit 
with  an  armament  of  six  twelve-pounder  brass  guns.  The  men  and  horses 
were  transported  from  Sandy  Hook,  Md.,  to  Georgetown,  D.  C,  by  canal 
boats,  a  quiet,  pleasant  trip,  which  the  men  enjoyed.  The  battery  rejoined  the 
army  at  Warrenton,  Va.,  in  August,  1863. 

Owing  to  the  irregularity  and  dissatisfaction  caused  by  the  original  enlist' 
ment  of  part  of  the  men  for  Serrell's  Engineers,  the  battery  was  disbanded 
December  4,  1863.  Lieut.  J.  S.  Clark  and  forty  men  who  enlisted  originally 
as  engineers  were  transferred  to  the  First  New  York  Engineers  (Serrell's),  and 
the  remainder  were  assigned  to  the  Fifth  and  Fifteenth  New  York  Batteries, 
and  to  Battery  B,  First  New  York  Light  Artillery. 


J.  B    LYON  PRINT 


P    J    SEVERENCE,  PHOTO. 


5th    new   YORK    INDEPENDENT    BATTERY. 


In  the  National  Cemetery,  near  the  Baltimore  Pike.    This  battery  had  four  guns  also  in  the  old  village 

cemetery,  along  the  Baltimore  Pike. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1295 


HTNSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 
.FIFTH  NEW  YORK 
INDEPENDENT  BATTERY 
(Taft's) 

2d  brigade,  artillery  reserve 

(Reverse.) 

This  battery 

held  this  position  from 

5  P.  M.  July  2,  to  5,  1863. 

Casualties 

I  Killed,  2  Wounded. 


1296  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

5th  independent  BATTERY  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

"TAFT'S  BATTERY." 

Historical  Sketch,  by  Capt.  Elijah  D.  Taft. 

The  Fifth  New  York  Independent  Battery  of  Light  Artillery  was  organized 
at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,,  August  15,  1861.  At  its  organization  it  was  intended  that 
it  should  form  a  part  of  Sickles'  Excelsior  Brigade. 

It  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  November  8,  1861,  with 
Elijah  D.  Taft  as  captain,  and,  leaving  Brooklyn  on  the  i6th,  was  ordered  to 
Washington.  It  was  stationed  near  the  Capitol  until  March,  1862,  when  it 
accompanied  the  army  to  the  Peninsula,  although  it  was  not  equipped  or 
mounted.  It  was  attached  to  the  Artillery  Reserve  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  composed  at  that  time  almost  entirely  of  regular  batteries. 

Col.  (afterwards  general)  H.  J.  Hunt,  commander  of  the  Artillery  Reserve, 
says  in  his  official  report :  "  Captain  Taft,  finding  his  battery  could  not  be 
mounted  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  campaign,  volunteered  its  services  for  the 
Artillery  Reserve,  among  the  batteries  of  which  the  officers  and  men  have  been 
distributed.  Captain  Taft,  his  officers,  Lieutenants  Henderson,  Denike,  and 
Russell  (the  latter  wounded  at  Yorktown),  his  non-commissioned  officers  and 
men,  have  served  faithfully,  efficiently,  and  usefully."  The  officers  and  men, 
while  serving  thus  with  other  commands,  took  an  active  part  in  the  fighting  at 
Fair  Oaks,  and  in  the  Seven  Days  Battle.  Embarking  at  Harrison's  Landing, 
Va.,  August  9,  1862,  it  sailed  to  Aquia  Creek,  Va.,  where  it  landed  and  marched 
to  Falmouth,  Va.,  near  Fredericksburg,  and  reported  to  General  Burnside. 
After  being  under  his  command  about  fifteen  days  the  battery  was  re-embarked 
and  proceeded  to  Alexandria,  Va.,  reporting  to  Colonel  Hays,  commanding 
Artillery  Reserve,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Its  equipment  of  four  twenty-pounder  Parrott  rifled  cannon  was  received  in 
time  for  the  battery  to  join  General  McClellan's  army  on  the  Maryland  cam- 
paign, the  men  being  afforded  an  ample  opportunity  to  test  the  efficiency  of 
these  heavy  field  pieces  at  the  battle  of  Antietam.  In  this  campaign  the  battery 
was  attached  to  the  Reserve  Artillery  of  the  Fifth  Army  Corps,  which,  at  that 
time,  was  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Fitz  John  Porter. 

At  Fredericksburg,  Captain  Taft  was  stationed  with  his  four  heavy  guns  on 
the  left  of  the  Union  line,  from  which  position  he  shelled  the  enemy  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  river.  Although  his  command  sustained  no  casualties  in 
this  battle  his  guns  rendered  good  service,  having  thrown  221  shells  during 
the  action.  In  December,  1862,  the  battery  was  placed  in  the  Artillery  Reserve 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  At  the  battle  of  Marye's  Heights,  May  3,  1863, 
it  opcupied  a  position  during  the  preliminary  fighting  near  where  it  stood  at  the 
previous  battle. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1297 

At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Taft  had  six  twenty-poundet  Parrot'fe,  or  three 
full  sections;  and  his  gims  were  the  only  ones  in  General  Meade's  entire  army 
on  that  field  which  were  heavier  than  the  ten-pound  rifles  or  twelve-pound 
Napoleons  used  by  the  other  batteries.  At  this  time  Captain  Taft  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  Second  Brigade  of  the  Reserve  Artillery,  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Leaving  Taneytown,  Md.,  on  the  morning  of  July  2d,  the  battery  arrived  at 
Gettysburg  about  10:30  a.  m.  In  the  afternoon  it  was  ordered  to  report  to 
General  Howard  on  Cemetery  Hill,  where  it  went  into  position  about  5  o'clock 
in  the  old  cemetery,  and  eng^aged  one  of  the  enemy's  batteries  on  the  north, 
with  four  guns ;  and  one  on  ithe  west  with  two.  Taft  was  engaged  also  on  the 
third  day  at  intervals  during  the  greater  part  of  the  day.  One  of  his  guns  burst 
at  the  muzzle,  and  became  useless.  In  the  two  days'  fighting  the  battery  fired 
557  rounds  of  shell  and  shrapnel. 

Private  John  C.  Begg  was  killed  by  the  explosion  of  a  caisson  limber  while 
coming  on  the  battlefield,  July  2d;  Private  Anton  Thalheimer  was  shot  through 
the  bowels  with  a  rifle  bullet  in  the  third  day's  fight,  and  died  that  night.  Ser- 
geant Dillon  and  Private  Wittenberg  were  wounded,  the  latter  severely. 

In  the  fall  of  1863  the  majority  of  the  men  re-enlisted  for  the  war,  and  re- 
turned to  New  York  on  a  thirty  days'  furlough.  Rejoining  the  army  in  time 
for  the  spring  campaign  of  1864,  the  battery  was  actively  engaged  at  Spotsyl- 
vania, where  three  of  the  men  were  killed.  An  order  having  been  issued  for  a 
reduction  of  the  Reserve  Artillery,  the  Fifth  New  York  Battery  was  ordered 
to  Washington,  and  on  May  19,  1864,  left  the  front.  It  was  stationed  at  Fort 
Craig,  in  the  defences  of  Washington,  south  of  the  Potomac  River,  until  July  12, 
1864,  when  it  reported  to  General  Wright,  commanding  Sixth  Army  Corps,  in 
Maryland.  In  August  it  was  transferred  to  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps,  com- 
manded by  Gen.  William  Emory,  and  with  that  corps  participated  in  the  fol- 
lowing battles:  Opequon  or  Winchester,  September  19,  1864;  Fisher's  Hill, 
Va.,  September  22,  1864;  New  Market,  September  24,  1864;  and  Cedar  Creek, 
Va.,  October  19,  1864. 

On  June  5,  1863,  Captain  Taft  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Second 
Brigade,  Artillery  Reserve,  Army  of  the  Potomac,  holding  that  position 
until  February,  1864,  during  which  time  the  battery  was  commanded  by  First 
Lieut.  J.  P.  Denike. 

On  August  7,  1864,  Captain  Taft  was  assigned  to  duty  as  chief  of  artillery. 
Nineteenth  Army  Corps,  then  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  During  General 
Sheridan's  victorious  campaign  the  battery  was  commanded  by  First  Lieut. 
J.  V.  Grant. 

The  battery  remained  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Hart's  Island,  New  York  Harbor,  on  July 
6,  1865,  after  a  continuous  service  of  nearly  four  years. 

The  following  officers  were  in  command  of  the  battery  when  it  was  mustered 
out :  Capt.  E.  D.  Taft,  First  Lieut.  J.  V.  Grant,  Second  Lieuts.  Thomas  Riker 
and  T.  J.  Skallon. 

Gen.  H.  J.  Hunt,  chief  of  artillery.  Army  of  the  Potomac,  in  a  private  letter, 
says :    "  Captain  Taft  organized  his  battery  under  my  direction  in  the  fall  and 

82 


1298  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

winter  of  1861-62,  and  he  served  during  the  whole  war  under  my  command, 
except  for  a  short  period  when  detached.  He  was  in  every  respect  an  excellent 
officer,  brave,  skillful,  painstaking,  a  good  administrator  and  disciplinarian. 
His  battery  was  among  the  best  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  did  its  full  share 
of  the  fighting  and  did  it  well.  Its  excellent  service  was  due  to  the  character 
and  qualities  of  the  captain,  and  I  had  frequent  occasion  to  commend  him  for 
gallantry  and  good  conduct.  His  battery  being  an  independent  one,  he  could 
not  receive  the  promotion  usually  conferred  on  an  officer  of  his  character  and 
merits." 

Among  the  casualties  which  occurred  in  the  battery  the  following  were  taken 
from  the  muster-out-rolls  on  file  in  the  office  of  the  Adjutant-General,  at 
Albany,  N.Y.: 

Anthon  Thalheimer:   Killed  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at  G€ttysburg,  Pa. 

Adolph  Wittenberg:   Killed  in  action,  July  3,  1863,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

John  C.  Begg:  Killed  in  action,  July  2,  1863,  at  Gettysburg,  Pa,,  by  the  acci- 
dental explosion  of  a  caisson. 

Thomas  Newman:  Killed  in  action,  May  18,  1864,  at  Spotsylvania,  Va. 

Durando  Russell:   Wounded,  April  19,  1862,  at  the  Siege  of  Yorktown,  Va. 

Michael  Ryan:  Wounded  in  action,  September  16,  1862,  near  Antietam,  Md. 

James  H.  Biggs:*  Wounded  in  action.  May  18, 1864,  at  Spotsylvania,  Va. 

Edward  Flynn:    Wounded  in  action.  May  31,  1862,  at  Fair  Oaks,  Va. 

Stephen  Wagner:  Wounded,  June  27,  1862,  at  Glendale,  Va.,  while  serving 
with  Battery  E.,  Second  United  States  Artillery. 

George  Woods:   Wounded  in  action,  November  29,  1863,  at  Mine  Run,  Va. 

August  Zehorsh:*    Wounded  in  action,  May  18,  1864,  at  Spotsylvania,  Va. 

James  Sullivan:  Missing  in  action,  June  26,  1862,  at  Mechanicsville,  Va., 
while  serving  with  Battery  K,  Fifth  United  States  Artillery. 

James  H.  Lyon:  Captured,  May  9,  1864,  at  Hawkins'  Church,  Va.;  died,  Sep- 
tember 10,  1864,  in  Andersonville  Prison. 

Frank  Hoffmeyer:   Drowned,  May  28,  1864,  while  bathing  at  Arlington,  Va. 

Laban  C.  Bertram:  Died  of  disease,  December  19,  1862,  in  hospital,  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Theodore  G.  Cook:  Died  of  disease  in  camp,  at  Harrison's  Landing,  Va. 

Josiah  Crowley:  Died  of  disease,  in  hospital,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  Septem- 
ber 3,  1862. 

John  J.  Snediker:  Died  of  disease,  August  20,  1862,  in  hospital,  at  Balti- 
more, Md. 

John  Terbitt:  Died  of  disease,  July  15,  1862,  while  in  camp,  at  Harrison's 
Landing,  Va. 

Henry  E.  Halsted:  Died  of  disease,  July  6,  1862,  while  in  camp,  at  Har- 
rison's Landing,  Va. 

James  Higgins:  Died  of  disease,  February  5,  1864,  in  hospital,  at  New 
York  city. 

There  were  several  others  who  were  killed  or  wounded  while  serving  tempo- 
rarily with  the  Fifth  New  York  Battery;  but  as  they  were  on  detached  service 
their  names  and  records  are  borne  on  the  rolls  of  the  respective  batteries  to 
which  they  belonged. 


♦  Reported,  also,  as  killed  at  Spotsylvania. 


J.  B.  LYON  PRINT. 


6th  new  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

On  west  side  of  Taneytown  Road   near  General  Meade's  headquarters. 


r.  J.  BETERENCB,  PHOTO. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1299 


{INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

6th  independent  BATTERY 

NEW  YORK  ARTILLERY, 

{Reverse.) 

Occupied  this  position 

July  3,  1863. 

Mustered  into  servicEi 

June  15,  1861. 

Mustered  out  of  service, 

July  8,  1865. 

{Right  Side.) 

1st  brig.  HORSE  ARTILLERY. 

{Left  Side.) 

CAVALRY  CORPS 


I3O0  New  York  at  Gettysbueg. 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 
6th  independent  BATTERY  LIGHT  ARTILLERY, 

July  4,  1891. 
Address  of  Rev.  William  Rollinson. 
Gentlemen  of  the  Sixth  Independent  Battery: 

The  historic  ground  where  we  stand,  made  memorable  by  the  gfrand  event 
of  which  it  was  the  theatre,  awakens  long  slumbering  emotions,  and  calls  up 
vividly  one  of  the  most  exciting  episodes  in  our  past  experience.  Twenty-eight 
years  ago  this  day,  the  wires  of  every  telegraphic  circuit  in  the  North  bore  to  all 
portions  of  the  loyal  States  tidings  of  the  victory  here  won.  The  battle  of 
Gettysburg  had  been  fought,  and  the  flag  of  the  Union  floated  proudly  over  the 
conquered  field!  Millions  of  Northern  hearts  thrilled  with  responsive  exulta- 
tion as  the  news  went  flashing  through  the  land. 

With  the  beginning  of  July  the  two  great  armies  of  the  North  and  South  met 
at  this  place.  Alike  brave,  alike  determined,  and,  we  may  charitably  concede, 
alike  sincere  in  their  convictions,  the  two  sections,  represented  by  the  flower 
of  their  manhood,  met  here  for  a  decisive  struggle  for  supremacy.  This  the 
whole  country  knew.  For  days  the  North  had  heard  of  the  unresisted  advance 
of  the  Southern  forces  under  General  Lee,  and  to  many  it  seemed  as  if  the 
thundercloud  of  war,  till  then  confined  to  the  South,  was  also  to  spread  its 
shadow  over  the  fair,  free  North. 

With  no  apprehensions  as  to  the  final  result,  yet  not  knowing  how  far  or 
wide  the  storm  might  spread  before  the  invasion  should  be  checked,  there  was 
widespread  anxiety.  Then  came  the  tidings  that  Lee  had  been  brought  to  bay, 
and  that,  like  two  athletes  stripped  for  a  death  struggle,  the  armies  of  the 
Union  and  the  Confederacy  had  met  at  Gettysburg. 

Hour  after  hour,  through  the  first,  the  second  and  the  third  days  of  July, 
every  rumor,  report  or  bulletin,  which  told  of  the  contest  here  was  eagerly 
received.  The  suspense  of  these  three  days  was  even  more  trying  to  those 
distant  from  the  field  than  to  the  men  engaged  in  battle,  so  much  depended  on 
the  issue;  and  when,  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  July,  came  the  welcome  tidings 
of  the  Union  victory,  the  relief  was  like  that  felt  in  awakening  from  a  night- 
mare dream.  And  when  to  this  was  joined  the  tidings  of  Vicksburg's  fall,  that 
Independence  Day  became  one  never  to  be  forgotten. 

Fitting  indeed  was  it  that  the  return  of  the  day  on  which  our  country  took 
its  place  among  nations  should  be  thus  brightened  by  victories  destined  to 
perpetuate  the  liberty  for  which  our  fathers  fought  and  the  Union  which  they 
formed ! 

So  many  years  have  passed  since  the  war  for  the  Union  ended,  that  to  justify 
the  purpose  of  your  assembling  here,  it  will  be  well  to  recall  and  restate  the 
cause  of  that  contest,  and  the  objects  sought  by  the  North  in  taking  up  arms. 
It  was  a  war  without  a  parallel  in  modem  times,  both  in  its  purpose  and  in  its 
spirit.    It  was  not  a  war  of  conquest    No  desire  to  enlarge  the  Nation's  power 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  13°^ 

or  possessions  nerved  the  arms  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Union.  Nor  was  it  fought 
to  cripple  the  power  of  a  prosperous  rival.  It  was  not  even  a  defensive  war. 
Had  tiiere  been  no  higher  motives  than  these  to  influence  the  North,  the  battle 
witnessed  here  would  have  had  no  place  in  history. 

Never  has  an  appeal  to  arms  been  made  with  reluctance  equal  to  that 
felt  by  the  people  of  the  North  in  1861.  Never  before  nor  since  has  such 
forbearance  been  displayed  by  a  government  towards  those  in  revolt  against 
its  lawful  authority.  The  necessity  thrust  upon  the  Northern  people  was  most 
unwelcome  to  them,  and  when  war  was  accepted  by  them  as  the  only  alterna- 
tive to  disunion,  it  was  with  heaviness  of  heart. 

For  months,  while  in  state  after  state  of  the  South  the  standard  of  secession 
was  being  raised,  the  government  and  the  people  waited,  hoping  even  to  the 
end  that  war  might  be  averted.  I  recall  these  things  as  illustrative  of  the  spirit 
which  pervaded  the  North.  Men  looked  for  the  sober  second  thought  of  the 
people  of  the  South  to  rebuke  the  demagogues  who  had  seized  the  reins  of 
power  in  the  revolted  states,  and  the  patient  inactivity  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment proved  its  reluctance  to  draw  the  sword. 

Yet,  back  of  all  this,  moveless  and  strong  as  the  imperishable  rock,  was  the 
determination  to  preserve  intact  a  Union  which  the  blood  of  our  fathers  had 
cemented.  The  words  of  New  England's  greatest  orator,  in  reply  to  Senator 
Foote,  found  an  echo  in  every  Northern  breast:  "When  my  eyes  shall  be 
turned  for  the  last  time  to  behold  the  sun  in  heaven,  may  I  not  see  him  shining 
on  the  broken  and  dishonored  fragments  of  a  once  glorious  Union;  on  states 
dissevered,  discordant  and  belligerent;  on  a  land  rent  by  civil  feuds,  or  drenched, , 
it  may  be,  in  fraternal  blood."  "  Liberty  and  Union,  now  and  forever,  one 
and  inseparable." 

Notwithstanding  this  unalterable  purpose  the  Northern  millions  hoped  and 
waited.  One  thing  only  was  dearer  to  them  than  peace  —  that  one  thing  was 
the  life  and  honor  of  the  nation;  and  not  till  the  gauntleted  hand  of  the  mis- 
guided South  struck  at  the  nation's  life;  not  till  with  shot  and  shell  and  can- 
non's defiant  roar  she  violently  assailed  the  flag  of  the  Union,  was  a  Northern 
hand  lifted  or  a  Northern  gun  fired  to  coerce  or  even  to  restrain  the  "  way- 
ward sisters."  But,  when  through  Sumter's  baptism  of  fire  the  demon  of  war 
was  invoked,  the  patriotism  and  the  manhood  of  the  North  made  prompt  an- 
swer to  the  challenge.  Like  a  lion  rising  from  his  lair  the  sturdy  North  arose 
in  response  to  this  bold  defiance. 

It  was  no  thirst  for  vengeance  even  then.  The  sole  impulse  was  to  preserve 
the  government,  to  prevent  the  dismembering  of  the  nation,  and  to  keep  flying 
the  flag  of  the  fathers  without  the  loss  of  a  single  star  from  its  blue  quartering. 
If  incidentally  other  motives  came  in,  this  purpose  was  the  bond  which  fused 
all  hearts  into  one  and  fired  the  nation  with  a  common  purpose,  a  purpose 
never  better  spoken  than  in  the  lines  of  Gen.  George  Morris: 

"The  union  of  lakes,  the  union  of  lands, 

The  union  of  states  none  shall  sever; 

The  union  of  hearts,  the  union  of  hands, 

And  the  flag  of  the  Union  forever  1 " 


1302  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

In  the  twenty-four  hours  which  followed  the  lowering  of  our  flagf  at  Sumter 
the  patriotic  spirit  of  the  North  gathered  the  force  of  a  cyclone.  Before  that 
exaltation  of  feeling,  money,  business  interests,  love  of  life  itself,  became  but 
as  chaff  before  the  whirlwind. 

It  was  grand  to  be  living  in  such  a  time;  to  be  taken  as  men  then  were  out 
■of  the  narrowness  of  self  and  the  pettiness  of  personal  interests,  into  the  grand 
current  of  a  people's  strongest  life,  to  feel  the  mighty  pulse  of  the  nation's 
heart  beating  in  unison  with  one's  own,  and  thus  be  lifted  above  self  by  the 
enthusiasm  which,  in  its  baptism  of  holy  fire,  enabled  and  exalted  the  nation. 

What  followed  you  well  know,  who  were  among  the  men  to  earliest  respond 
to  the  call  of  the  government  for  volunteers.  The  South  had  crossed  the 
Rubicon.  Of  her  own  choice  she  made  the  appeal  to  arms,  and  thencefor- 
ward the  only  possible  arbiter  was  iron-handed  war. 

From  near  the  beginning  to  the  very  end  of  the  protracted  conflict,  the  Sixth 
Independent  Battery  of  New  York  Artillery  was  in  the  field.  Of  the  reputa- 
tion which  it  had  already  won  when  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  fought,  and 
its  guns  stood  about  the  spot  now  crowned  by  this  monumental  stone,  I  need 
not  speak.    Your  guidon  tells  the  story.    That  reputation  was  never  diminished. 

The  battery  kept  the  field  till  the  flag  of  a  restored  Union  floated  in  un- 
challenged supremacy  over  every  portion  of  the  land,  the  unity  of  which  it  had 
gallantly  aided  in  preserving.  Then,  when  the  great  task  had  been  accom- 
plished, the  enginery  of  war  was  laid  aside  and  the  soldier  became  the  citizen 
again. 

More  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  has  passed  since.  With  a  restored  Union, 
peace  was  re-established.  During  all  those  years  the  guns  of  this  battery 
have  been  silent.  Few,  if  any,  of  the  men  who  manned  them  on  this  battlefield, 
have  ever  before  revisited  this  spot.  But  the  twenty-eighth  anniversary  of  that 
victory  finds  the  battery  again  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg,  with  its  old  com- 
mander at  its  head. 

You  are  here  with  no  hostile  feelings.  The  bitterness  of  the  past  has  long 
since  gone  from  all  Northern  hearts,  and  in  revisiting  a  scene  in  which  you 
once  stood  as  defenders  of  your  country's  flag,  you  come  for  a  pacific  purpose. 
It  is  to  unveil  a  monumental  shaft  which  indicates  the  place  your  battery  oc- 
cupied when  here  the  battle's  smoke  obscured  the  sun  as  the  thunder  of  artil- 
lery filled  the  air;  but,  with  all  the  memories  evoked  by  the  occasion,  the  scene 
on  which  we  look  to-day,  so  beautiful  with  summer's  glory,  and  so  peaceful 
in  the  holy  calm  of  nature's  silent  repose,  does  no  more  than  symbolize  the 
temper  of  the  Northern  soldier  towards  his  former  foes. 

Rejoicing  though  you  do,  in  the  victory  here  won,  you  have  not  visited  this 
spot  to  exult  in  your  triumph  then.  What  you  are  here  to  perform  you  would 
welcome  your  old  opponents  in  doing  should  they  desire,  as  some  have  done 
to  mark  the  positions  occupied  by  them  on  a  field  which  is  consecrated  by  the 
blood  and  bravery  of  two  great  armies.  You  come  to  dedicate  to  the  country  a 
memorial  of  the  spirit  of  her  sons  and  to  mark  the  spot  where  you,  soldiers  of 
the  Union,  stood  in  defence  of  her  holy  cause. 

It  is  well  to  rear  such  monuments  as  this  one  now  to  be  unveiled,  and  such 
as  those  which  have  been  already  reared  upon  the  hills  around  us.    Silent  yet 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1303 

eloquent  reminders  of  the  purpose  of  one  of  the  greatest  wars  of  modern  times, 
they  tell  a  story  of  devotion  to  principle  and  of  fearless  performance  of  duty, 
and  thus  they  will  serve  to  impress  on  coming  generations  lessons  of  the 
patriotism  which  is  the  life  and  glory  of  a  nation. 

Every  stone  that  rises  on  this  battlefield  has  its  own  special  tale  to  tell,  but 
the  voices  of  all  unite  in  proclaiming  the  devotion  of  Northern  hearts  to  their 
government,  their  country  and  its  flag,  and  speak  of  that  uprising  of  the  people 
which  exalted  the  life  of  the  nation  it  preserved.  Unpretentious  as  any  of 
these  monuments  may  be,  the  humblest  of  them  gathers  greatness  from  its 
design  and  becomes  impressive  by  the  pathetic  narrative  it  relates;  for  one 
and  all,  they  speak  not  only  of  the  victory  here  won,  but  of  the  cost  of  life 
and  suffering  at  which  the  victory  was  purchased. 

Unveil,  then,  your  monument  to-day  on  the  spot  where,  twenty-eight  years 
ago,  grimed  with  smoke  and  dust  of  battle,  you  stood  to  defend  the  laws 
and  government  of  the  country  that  you  loved.  Here  let  it  stand  through 
summer's  heat  and  winter's  cold,  to  declare  the  part  you  took  in  a  war  made 
sacred  by  its  object.  It  will  remain,  when  you  are  gone,  a  silent  witness  for 
you;  and  what  it  will  repeat  and  what  its  fellow  monuments  will  say  to  the 
visitor  of  this  scene,  may  be  summed  up  in  the  words  of  the  Master  of  us 
all:  "  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for 
his  friends." 


HISTORICAL  NOTES. 

The  Sixth  New  York  Independent  Battery  was  commanded  originally  by 
Capt.  Thos.  W.  Bunting,  who  was  soon  succeeded  by  Walter  M.  Bramhall,  one 
of  the  lieutenants.  The  latter  commanded  it  during  the  Peninsular  campaign 
where,  as  Bramhall's  Battery,  it  achieved  honorable  distinction.  Captain  Bram- 
hall, who  resigned  February  16,  1863,  was  succeeded  by  Joseph  W.  Martin, 
promoted  from  a  lieutenancy.  Martin  was  honorably  discharged  at  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  service,  February  16,  1865,  and  was  succeeded  by  Lieut. 
Moses  P.  Clark,  under  whose  command  the  battery  returned  at  the  end  of  the 
war.  Although  first  recruited  at  Rahway,  N.  J.,  it  was  organized  in  New  York 
Gty  as  Company  K,  Ninth  Militia  (Eighty-third  N.  Y.  Vols.),  to  serve  as  an 
artillery  company  attached  to  that  regiment;  but  it  was  detached  Aug.  25,  1861, 
and  designated  the  Sixth  Battery.  In  the  fall  of  1861,  it  was  stationed  at  Har- 
per's Ferry  and  Ball's  Blufif;  during  1862,  it  served  in  the  Third  Corps;  in 
March,  1863,  it  was  equipped  as  a  "  horse  battery,"  having  been  transferred 
to  the  Cavalry  Corps,  with  which  it  remained  during  the  rest  of  its  service. 
It  participated  in  the  battles  of  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  Seven  Days,  Malvern 
Hill,  Chancellorsville,  Beverly  Ford,  Gettysburg,  Bristoe  Station,  Wilderness, 
Sheridan's  Raid,  Cedar  Creek,  and  the  Shenandoah  Valley  campaign.  The 
Sixth  was  always  known  as  a  reliable  and  efficient  batterjr. 


1304  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


(INSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

10th  independent  battery 
new  york  light  artillery 

1st  volunteer  BRIGADE 

ARTILLERY  RESERVE 

July  2,  1863 

Attached  to  5th  Massachusetts 

Light  Battery  "  E  " 

Casualties 

Killed  2,  Wounded  3. 

Organized  as  the  2d 

Excelsior  Battery 

Mustered  into  U.  S.  service 

April  9,  1862 

Consolidated  with  6th 

N.  Y.  Independent  Battery 

June  21,  1864 
Mustered  out  June  22,  1865 


New  York  at  Gettysburg,  1305 

10th  independent  battery  ught  artillery, 
'second  excelsior." 

Historical  Notes. 

The  Tentfi  New  York  Independent  Battery  of  Light  Artillery  was  recruited 
in  New  York  City  pursuant  to  orders  of  the  War  Department,  dated  October 
I,  1861.  Organized  originally  as  a  part  of  General  Sickles'  famous  Excelsior 
Brigade  it  adopted  the  title  of  Second  Excelsior  Battery;  but  on  Being  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service,  April  9,  1862,  it  was  designated  by  the  State 
authorities  as  the  Tenth  New  York  Independent  Battery^  The  Third  Ex- 
celsior Battery  having  failed  to  complete  its  organization  the  men  who  had 
been  recruited  for  that  command  were  transferred  to  the  Tenth  Battery. 

Under  command  of  Capt.  John  T.  Bruen,  the  company  left  the  State  April 
10,  1862,  and  proceeded  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  it  encamped  a  short 
time  while  undergoing,  the  drill  and  instruction  necessary  to  enable  it  to  enter 
active  service  in  the  field.  It  was  equipped  with  six  brass  guns,  of  the  pattern 
known  as  "  light  twelves." 

In  June,  1862,  it  joined  Banks's  Corps  with  which  it  was  present  at 
Cedar  Mountain,  Manassas,  and  Antietam.  In  December  it  was  transferred 
to  Whipple's  Division  of  the  Third  Corps,  with  which  command  it  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg.  During  this  time  it  adhered  to  its  original 
name,  that  of  the  Second  Excelsior  Battery. 

Under  command  of  Lieut.  Samuel  Lewis  the  Tenth  Battery  was  actively 
engaged  at  Chancellorsville.  General  Sickles,  the  corps  commander,  says  in 
his  ofificial  report  of  that  battle,  that  "  Lewis  established  a  high  name  for  his 
battery."  Captain  Randolph,  chief  of  artillery.  Third  Corps,  says  in  his  oiS- 
cial  report  for  Chancellorsville:  "  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  speak  in 
terms  of  the  highest  praise  of  Lieutenant  Lewis  and  his  battery,  especially 
as  it  had  been,  unfortunately,  somewhat  under  a  cloud.  Nothing  could  be 
more  praiseworthy  than  his  conduct  from  first  to  last."  The  losses  of  the 
battery  in  this  battle  were,  13  enlisted  men  wounded,  and  5  missing  or  captured. 

At  Gettysburg  the  Tenth  New  York  was  attached  to  Phillips'  Fifth  Mas- 
sachusetts Battery  and  with  that  command  fought  in  the  battles  of  the  second 
and  third  day.  Of  the  21  men  killed  and  wounded  in  Captain  Phillips'  com- 
mand, 5  were  from  the  Tenth  New  York  Battery.  In  the  second  day's  battle, 
PhilHps  was  stationed  with  his  six  guns  on  the  road  leading  from  the  Wheat- 
field  to  the  Peach  Orchard,  where  he  was  hotly  engaged.  On  the  third  dav 
his  battery  was  in  position  on  Cemetery  Ridge,  where  it  participated  in  the 
grand  cannonade  of  that  day. 

In  July,  1863,  after  Gettysburg,  the  battery  under  command  of  Lieut.  T.  C. 
Bruen,  was  stationed  in  the  defences  of  Washington,  where  it  formed  a  part 
of  the  Twenty-second  Corps.  On  June  21,  1864,  it  was  transferred  to  the 
Sixth  New  York  Independent  Battery. 


1306  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Lieutenant  Lewis  describes  the  action  at  Chancellorsville  as  follows:  While 
Jackson  was  marching  along  the  flank  of  the  Union  Army  to  attack  its  rear, 
the  Third  Corps  was  ordered  to  Catherine  Furnace  to  find  out  what  he  was 
doing.  General  Sickles,  the  corps  commander,  ordered  three  batteries  left  at 
Hazel  Grove,  a  slight  elevation  near  a  dense  wood. 

After  6  p.  m.  the  well-known  Confederate  yell,  with  a  rattle  of  musketry,  was 
heard  in  the  woods.  Private  Willicot  was  ordered  to  climb  a  tree,  that  over- 
looked the  woods  and  clearings,  to  see  what  was  going  on.  He  said  our  men 
were  running  towards  us,  and  that  the  rebs  were  after  them  on  the  double-quick. 
Seeing  we  must  act  at  once,  I  asked  Captain  Huntington,  whose  battery  was 
parked  closely  in  my  front,  to  open  intervals  and  uncover  me,  as  the  enemy 
was  close  upon  us.  He  wheeled  and  formed  on  a  rise  of  ground,  and  the 
Eleventh  New  York  Battery  formed  beside  him.  I  formed  the  Tenth  to  pro- 
tect them  while  going  into  position.  There  was  hardly  time  to  do  this,"  when 
the  enemy,  swarming  from  the  woods,  over  an  intervening  stone  wall,  rushed 
towards  the  guns.  The  Tenth  opened  with  canister,  and  in  a  minute  the  other 
two  followed.  The  enemy  came  up  in  crowds,  and  went  down  in  heaps  under 
our  concentrated  fire.  With  us  it  was  a  matter  of  life  and  death;  with  them, 
the  game  was  to  bag  Hooker  and  cut  off  the  Third  Corps.  Our  three  batteries 
held  the  key  of  the  position,  though  we  did  not  know  it  at  the  time. 

While  this  was  going  on.  General  Sickles  galloped  up,  his  horse  covered 
with  foam,  and  shouted,  "What  battery?"  I  said,  "Tenth  New  York." 
"Hello,  Lewis,  is  that  you?  Hold  your  position!"  "I  cannot  hold  it  five 
minutes  without  supports."  "  Hold  on,  at  all  hazards!  I  will  send  you  a  regi- 
ment." "  That  won't  do,"  said  I,  "  you  must  send  a  brigade."  He  galloped 
away,  but  the  brigade  —  two  small  regiments  —  did  not  come  until  the  danger 
was  nearly  over. 

At  daylight  I  was  ordered  to  the  Chancellorsville  House,  and  we  dragged 
our  guns  over  the  swamp.  During  the  time  I  was  at  Hazel  Grove  I  neither 
saw  nor  heard  of  General  Pleasanton.  The  highest  officer  among  us  was  a 
battery  commandant. 

Soon  after  we  left  Hazel  Grove  the  Confederates  crowded  that  rise  of  ground 
with  batteries,  opening  a  terrible  fire  on  us  at  Chancellorsville.  The  Tenth 
New  York,  stationed  opposite  the  northwest  corner,  which  covered  Hooker's 
line  of  retreat,  received  their  principal  fire.  After  staying  there  a  long  time, 
unable  to  return  the  fire  for  want  of  ammunition,  I  stated  the  fact  to  a  general 
officer,  asking  permission  to  retire  the  guns.  He  said,  "  No !  If  they  see  you 
retire,  they  will  advance."  Waiting  quite  patiently  some  time  longer,  he  said, 
"  You  may  now  withdraw  your  guns  by  hand;  your  horses  would  only  attract 
attention."  Asking  whom  I  had  the  honor  to  address,  he  replied,  "  General 
Hancock." 

My  battery  fell  back  to  another  position,  and  received  ammunition.  Soon 
our  enterprising  friends  in  gray  made  their  appearance.  Seven  times  they 
charged  into  the  open,  to  be  driven  back  with  canister.  *  *  *  After  all 
the  other  batteries  had  moved  for  the  river,  I  was  told  to  leave  my  guns  and 
take  the  horses.  The  men  refused,  saying,  "  If  our  battery  goes  to  Richmond, 
we  go  too."  There  was  no  further  attack  on  that  night,  so  we  saved  both 
horses  and  guns. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  i.3°7 

INSCRIPTIONS.) 


,     {Front.) 
llTH  INDEPENDENT  (Havelock) 

BATTERY 

NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY 

4th  VOLUNTEER  BRIGADE 

.   ARTILLERY  RESERVE 

July  3,  1863 

Attached  to  Battery  IC- 

IST  New  York  Light  Artillery 

Casualties 

Wounded,  5 

Organized  at  Albany,  New  York 

October  26,  1861 

Mustered  into 

United  States  service 

January  6,  1862 

Participated  in  all  the  battles 

OF  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 

FROM  Second  Bull  Run  to 

Appomattox,  except  Antietam 

Mustered  out  June  13,  1865 


1308  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 

llTH  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY,  LIGHT  ARTILLERY, 

"  HAVELOCK  BATTERY." 

July  3,  1893. 

Address  by  Capt.  John  E.  Burton. 
Comrades: 

On  an  occasion  like  this  words  seem  weak  and  inadequate.  The  monument 
which  we  dedicate  to-day  in  memory  of  the  brave  men  who  fought  and  suffered 
here, —  this  monument,  standing  so  near  the  "  High- Water  "  mark  of  the  Re- 
bellion, is  more  eloquent  in  its  record  of  the  deeds  of  thirty  years  ago  tlian  any 
words  of  mine  can  be. 

Many  things  that  happened  then  are  indistinct  in  our  memory,  but  the 
events  of  the  3d  of  July,  1863,  will  never  be  forgotten  by  any  of,  us.  You 
remember  how,  after  being  moved  from  one  position  to  another  so  many 
times  on  the  2d,  and  up  to  noon  on  the  3d  of  July,  we  finally  had  orders  to 
move  at  once  to  that  terrible  part  of  the  line  where  it  seemed  as  though  hell 
had  broken  loose.  We  moved  lively,  and  came  into  position  on  a  gallop.  I 
really  believe  it  was  the  moral  effect  of  three  batteries  coming  up  at  that 
critical  moment  that  caused  the  wavering  of  the  line  and  the  disastrous  retreat 
of  Pickett's  men.  Can  we  ever  forget  that  wild  exultant  feeling  that  took 
possession  of  us  when  we  knew  the  victory  was  ours?  Or  the  shout  that  went 
down  the  line  when  the  headquarters'  band  broke  out  with  "  Hail  Columbia ! 
Happy  Land?" 

I  want  to  relate  a  little  incident  that  happened  just  after  the  hard  fighting 
of  that  day.  I  walked  a  short  distance  to  the  right  of  our  guns  to  look  over 
the  ground.  Scarcely  a  square  yard  of  this  immense  field  in  front  of  us  but  was 
covered  with  either  dead  or  wounded.  As  the  firing  began  again  I  was  about 
to  return  to  our  battery  when  a  wounded  Confederate  sitting  behind  the  stone 
wall,  almost  at  my  feet,  beckoned  to  me,  and  made  motions  for  something  with 
which  to  write.  Giving  him  a  pencil  and  envelope  he  wrote  this  message: 
"  Tell  my  mother  I  died  trusting  in  the  Lord."  He  signed  it,  John  T.  Burton, 
Thirty-eighth  (I  think)  Virginia  Infantry.  I  took  the  poor  fellow,  who  seemed 
to  be  shot  through  both  cheeks,  by  the  hand,  and  told  him  that  was  almost 
my  own  name.  I  assured  him  that  I  would  get  the  message  to  his  mother 
if  possible,  and  hoped  his  wounds  would  not  prove  fatal.  But  he  shook  his 
head,  and  his  anticipations  were  no  doubt  correct,  for  a  search  through  all  the 
hospitals  and  prison  camps  of  the  East,  after  the  campaign,  failed  to  reveal  any 
record  of  him,  and  he  no  doubt  lies  with  the  many  thousands  of  dead  on  this 
very  field. 

I  wrote  a  letter  of  sympathy  to  his  mother,  as  soon  as  the  campaign  was 
over,  and  got  it  through  by  flag  of  truce.  Her  address  was  Mrs.  John  Burton, 
White  Plains,  Va.     In  a  few  weeks  I  received  an  answer  thanking  me  for  send- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1309 

ing  them  the  last  message  of  "  an  idolized  son  and  brother."  In  November, 
1867,  I  received  a  beautiful  and  touching  letter,  inclosing  some  pathetic  verses 
entitled,  "Strangers  Tell  Me  Where  You've  Laid  Him!"  from  Miss  Annie, 
a  sister  of  Lieutenant  Burton.  Her  address  at  that  time  was  P.  O.  Box  172, 
Petersburg,  Va.,  care  of  Miss  Lou.  Brown. 

New  York's  part  in  furnishing  men  and  money  for  the  great  conflict  of 
1861-1865  was  a  glorious  one.  Sacrifices  that  seemed  great  and  grievous 
then,  now  seem  light  compared  with  the  glorious  results  achieved.  As  New 
York  gave  the  best  she  had  in  those  trying  times  of  war,  so  now,  by  these 
beautiful  monuments,  she  shows  her  gratitude  for  the  noble  work  done  by  her 
soldiers  thirty  years  ago. 

I  was  proud  to  enlist  with  the  Eleventh  Independent  Battery  as  a  New 
York  soldier  in  1861;  and  I  am  proud  to-day  that  I  am  a  citizen  of  the  State 
of  New  York.  We  can  safely  leave  these  beautiful  shafts  and  blocks  of  en- 
during granite  to  the  care  of  future  generations. 


Historical  Sketch,  by  Capt.  George  W.  Davey. 

The  Eleventh  New  York  Independent  Battery  of  Light  Artillery,  known  as 
the  "  Havelocks,"  was  organized  by  the  consolidation  of  two  incomplete  com- 
panies, each  of  which  had  been  recruited  for  this  arm  of  the  service.  In  1861, 
Gen.  Gustavus  A.  Scroggs,  of  Buflalo,  endeavored  to  organize  five  regiments 
which  were  to  constitute  and  be  known  as  the  Eagle  Brigade,  for  which  a 
large  number  of  recruits  were  enlisted.  In  addition  to  the  infantry  regiments 
which  were  to  form  this  brigade,  the  organization  of  a  light  battery  was  at- 
tempted, and  recruiting  for  the  same  was  commenced.  But  the  infantry  regi- 
ments were  ordered  to  the  front  as  fast  as  organized,  and  recruiting  for  the 
battery  became  slow  and  difficult.    The  Eagle  Brigade  was  never  organized. 

The  men  who  enlisted  in  this  battery  were  recruited  by  Capt.  Robert  C. 
Wormington,  of  Ashtabula,  Ohio.  They  came  mostly  from  that  town,  although 
some  were  from  Buffalo.  But  they  were  all  enlisted  in  Buffalo,  and  credited 
to  the  quota  of  Erie  County,  N.  Y. 

About  this  same  time,  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  the  formation  of  a  light  artillery 
company  was  attempted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association.  Physically  and  morally  the  standard  of  membership  and  enlist- 
ment was  high.  It  was  intended  that  profanity,  intemperance,  and  gambling 
should  be  unkndwn  within  its  ranks;  and  that  in  camp,  religious  meetings 
should  be  held  daily  as  well  as  Sundays.  It  was  hoped  that  the  battery  would 
in  every  respect  prove  worthy  of  the  famous  Christian  soldier  whose  name  it 
bore.  The  Rev.  Albert  A.  von  Puttkammer,  a  German  Baptist  clergyman, 
who  had  received  authority,  October  26,  1861,  to  recruit  a  battery,  was  elected 
captain.  But  the  religious  advantages  thus  offered  failed  to  attract  the  average 
recruit,  and  the  officers  found  difficulty  in  obtaining  the  150  men  necessary 
for  a  fully-manned  battery  of  light  artillery. 


1310  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  State  authorities  becoming  impatient  at  the  delay  in  completing  an 
organization  by  the  two  batteries  mentioned,  ordered  their  consolidation,  for 
the  recruits  were  needed  at  the  front.  This  order  was  carried  into  eflfect, 
January  15,  1862,  and  the  newly-formed  battery  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  for  three  years,  from  January  6th.  The  consolidated  organiza- 
tion was  ofificered  as  follows: 

A.  A.  von  Puttkammer,  Captain. 

Robert  C.  Wormington,  First  lieutenant. 

James  Rodgers,  First  lieutenant. 

Galen  A.  Knapp,  Second  lieutenant. 

John  E.  Burton,  Second  lieutenant. 

The  battery  left  Albany,  N.  Y.,  January  17,  1862,  arriving  at  Fort  Ellsworth, 
near  Alexandria,  Va.,  on  the  25th,  where  it  remained,  occupied  in  drill  and 
garrison  duty  until  July  21,  1862,  when  it  took  the  field,  having  been  ordered 
to  join  Pope's  army. 

On  June  23,  1862,  it  received  its  armament,  which  con,sisted  of  four  3-inch 
rifled  cannons  and  two  "  light  twelves."  The  latter  were  brass  cannons  known 
as  twelve-pounder  "  Napoleons."  The  equipment  included,  also,  six  caissons, 
one  battery  wagon  and  forge,  with  six  horses  each  for  the  guns,  caissons, 
forge,  and  battery  wagon,  and  sixteen  saddle  horses  for  the  sergeants,  artificers, 
buglers  and  guidon  bearer.    The  officers  purchased  their  own  horses. 

The  organization  of  the  battery  was  composed  of  5  commissioned  officers, 
2  staff  sergeants,  6  line  sergeants,  12  corporals,  2  buglers,  6  artificers,  and 
131  cannoneers  and  drivers;  a  total  of  164  officers  and  enlisted  men. 

The  battery  left  its  camp  near  Fairfax  Seminary,  Va.,  August  23,  1862,  and 
marched  to  Manassas,  arriving  there  on  the  afternoon  of  the  24th,  and  camp- 
ing near  the  junction.  Nothing  of  importance  occurred  until  about  9  p.  m. 
of  the  26th,  when  firing  was  heard  on  the  line  of  the  railroad,  which  was 
ascertained  to  have  been  a  volley  fired  at  a  train  of  cars.  Immediately  four  guns 
were  ordered  to  the  station,  as  it  was  thought  that  a  party  of  guerrillas  were 
coming  to  attack  the  depot  in  which  were  stored  supplies  for  Pope's  army. 
The  battery  was  placed  in  position  on  the  right  of  the  road  without  any  sup- 
port or  pickets  in  front.  About  11  p.  m.,  the  Confederate  cavalry  under 
General  Stuart,  made  their  appearance,  and  charged  upon  tlie  battery,  but 
meeting  with  a  warm  reception  fell  back.  They  soon  rallied,  and  striking  the 
left  of  the  line,  flanked  us.  ; 

The  horses  unused  to  such  hubbub  became  unmanageable,  and  the  guns 
could  not  be  limbered  up.  We  were  forced  to  retreat  without  them,  carrying 
the  ammunition  with  us.  The  battery  retreated  to  tlie  ford,  where  it  remained 
until  daylight,  when,  having  been  reinforced  by  the  Second  Regiment,  New 
York  Heavy  Artillery,  it  again  started  for  Manassas.  We  met  the  enemy's 
pickets,  and  drove  them  back.  On  reaching  the  field,  the  remaining  two  guns 
were  unlimbered,  and  for  three  hours  we  held  the  enemy  at  bay.  Being  out- 
numbered we  were  again  forced  to  retreat,  falling  back  to  Centreville,  where 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  131^ 

we  made  a  stand.  But  it  was  of  no  use.  Panic  had  seized  the  troops,  and 
all  was  confusion.  At  this  critical  moment  we  met  a  Massachusetts  regiment, 
Colonel  Green,  who  took  command  and  formed  his  men  in  an  adjoining  woods 
with  our  two  guns  in  position,  and  awaited  the  enemy,  who,  finding  that  we 
had  received  reinforcements,  retired  after  firing  a  few  shots. 

General  Longstreet,  in  an  article  published  in  the  Century  Magazine,  en- 
titled "  Our  March  against  Pope,"  says : 

"  The  next  day  (August  26)  he  (General  Jackson)  passed  through  Thorough- 
fare Gap,  and  when  sunset  came  he  was  many  miles  in  the  rear  of  Pope's 
army,  going  in  the  direction  of  Washington  City.  When  he  arrived  at  Bristoe 
Station,  just  before  night,  the  greater  part  of  the  Federal  guard  at  that  point 
f5ed,  and  two  trains  of  cars  were  captured.  Jackson  sent  a  force  forward  seven 
miles,  and  captured  Manassas  Junction,  arriving  there  himself  on  the  morning 
of  the  27th." 

The  battery  lost  in  this,  its  first  battle,  5  men  wounded,  and  20  taken  prisoners. 
In  the  night  attack  it  fired  twenty  rounds  of  canister  and  one  fuse  shell. 
During  the  month  of  September,  the  battery  received  four  3-inch  rifled  can- 
nons, and  was  again  ready  for  the  field.  On  October  17th,  it  was  assigned  to 
Whipple's  Division,  Third  Corps,  with  which  command  it  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville. 

December  9,  1862,  Lieutenant  Wormington  resigned,  and  Sergt.  James  T. 
Wyatt  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant.  January  2,  1863,  Lieut.  G.  A. 
Knapp  resigned,  and  Sergt.  W.  Redhead   was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant. 

The  battery  left  its  winter  quarters,  January  19,  1863,  and  participated  in 
the  famous  "  Mud  March,"  returning  to  its  camp  on  the  23d.  On  April  29th, 
it  marched  from  its  winter  quarters  at  Falmouth,  Va.,  to  below  Fredericksburg, 
moving  on  the  30th,  and  crossing  the  Rappahannock  River,  at  the  United 
States  Ford,  May  i,  1863.  On  the  2d,  after  being  placed  in  several  diiiferent 
positions,  the  battery  marched  past  the  Chancellor  House  to  an  opening  in 
the  woods  known  as  Hazel  Grove,  and  was  ordered  to  rest  and  feed  the  horses 
preparatory  to  another  night's  march.  The  men  were  making  their  coflfee, 
and  the  horses  were  enjoying  their  grain,  when  the  ball  opened  on  the  right. 
"  Stonewall  Jackson  "  had  surprised  Howard's  Corps,  and  driven  it  back.  The 
firing  coming  nearer,  the  guns  were  placed  "  in  battery."  Soon  all  was  con- 
fusion and  disorder.  Some  of  the  men  of  the  Eleventh  Corps  came  rushing 
down  the  road  and  through  the  batteries,  shouting,  "  Get  out  of  the  way,  the 
Johnnies  are  coming!  "  Here  is  where  the  true  grit  and  metal  of  the  men 
of  the  battery  was  shown,  when,  in  the  face  of  a  charging  enemy  flushed  with 
success,  and  under  the  demoralizing  effects  of  broken,  routed  troops  rushing 
through  their  lines,  they  stood  to  their  guns,  and  as  soon  as  the  fugitives  had 
passed  opened  fire  with  canister,  pouring  death  and  destruction  into  the  ranks 
of  the  enemy.  The  Confederates  formed  three  times  to  charge,  but  each  time 
were  driven  back  with  great  loss. 

Gen.  J.  C.  Tidball,  U.  S.  Army,  in  an  article  on  the  "Artillery  service  in 
the  Rebellion,"  writes:  "This  fire,  evidently  unexpected,  caused  the  enemy 
to  retire  hastily  to  the  cover  of  the  woods  from  which  they  just  emerged,  and 
from  which  they  at  once  opened  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry.     Nothing  but  the 


I3I2  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

timely  and  gallant  conduct  of  these  batteries  prevented  the  enemy  from  gain- 
ing the  flank  and  rear  erf  the  Twelfth  Corps,  as  it  had  that  of  the  Eleventh 
Corps.  The  batteries  that  did  this  invaluable  serv?be  were  Huntingdon's  "  H," 
First  Ohio,  and  the  Tenth  and  Eleventh  New  York  Independent  Batteries, 
commanded  by  Lieutenants  Lewis  and  Burton  respectively.  Martin's  Horse 
Battery,  the  Sixth  New  York,  of  four  pieces,  acted  in  conjunction  with  the 
others.  These  batteries  (22  guns),  entirely  alone  and  unsupported,  maintained 
their  positions,  holding  the  enemy  in  check  until  the  arrival,  considerable  time 
afterwards,  of  Birney's  and  Whipple's  Divisions  from  the  front." 

The  Eleventh  Battery  was  placed  in  several  important  positions  the  next 
day,  and  was  under  fire  all  the  time,  doing  good  execution.  On  May  5th,  it 
recrossed  the  river,  and  returned  to  its  camp  at  Falmouth.  Its  losses  at  Chan- 
cellorsville  were  11  men  killed  or  wounded,  besides  losing  a  number  of  its 
horses. 

On  May  23d,  the  battery  was  transferred  to  the  Reserve  Artillery,  and 
attached  temporarily  to  Battery  "  K,"  First  Regiment  of  New  York  Light 
Artillery.  Captain  R.  H.  Fitzhugh,  being  the  senior  ofificer,  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  both  batteries. 

On  June  13th,  the  battery  left  camp  at  White  Oak  Church,  Va.,  at  4  p.  m., 
marching  night  and  day  until  it  arrived  at  Fairfax  on  the  isth.  Remaining 
there  until  the  24th,  it  resumed  its  march,  crossing  the  Potomac  River  at  Ed- 
wards Feri-y  and  arriving  at  Taneytown,  Md.,  on  the  30th,  where  we  heard 
that  Lee's  army  had  been  found  near  Gettysburg,  Pa.  We  arrived  there  on 
the  morning  of  July  2d,  and  went  into  position  on  the  Baltimore  Pike,  in  sup- 
port of  the  Twelfth  Corps  line.  In  the  evening  we  were  sent  to  reinforce  the 
line  to  the  left  of  the  "  Clump  of  Trees,"  returning  to  the  Reserve  on  the  morn- 
ing of  July  3d. 

About  I  p.  m.  the  enemy  opened  with  his  artillery,  and  for  two  hours  the 
mighty  duel  raged  in  all  its  fury,  making  the  air  hideous  with  the  shrieks 
of  the  shot  and  shell  which  ploughed  the  earth  in  furrows,  many  of  the  shells 
falling  among  the  reserve  batteries,  causing  them  to  change  their  positions 
for  a  more  sheltered  place.  Soon  the  command  was  given  for  the  drivers  of 
the  Eleventh  Battery  to  mount,  and  it  galloped  to  the  front,  moving  along  the 
Hne  of  battle  into  position  near  the  "  Angle,"  where  it  assisted  in  repelling  the 
charge  of  Pickett's  Division.  While  awaiting  Pickett's  charge  a  shell  from  the 
enemy's  artillery  struck  one  of  the  lead  horses  of  a  gun  squarely  in  the  breast. 
It  staggered  and  fell  with  its  rider  to  the  ground.  The  lieutenant  in  command 
of  the  section  called  out,  "  Bring  up  another  horse !  "  The  driver  looking  up 
to  him  and  saluting  said,  "  Lieutenant,  hadn't  you  better  bring  up  another 
man  too?  " 

Captain  von  Puttkammer,  having  been  dismissed  from  the  service,  Lieut. 
John  E.  Burton  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy,  in  July,  1863.  After  partici- 
pating in  the  fall  campaign  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  the  operations 
at  Mine  Run,  the  battery  went  into  winter  quarters  near  Brandy  Station,  Va. 
While  here  most  of  the  men  re-enHsted  for  the  war,  and  went  home  on  a  "  vet- 
eran furlough  "  of  thirty  days.  Recruits  were  received  in  number  sufficient 
to  make  up  the  full  complement  of  men. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  13^3 

On  May  4,  1864,  the  Eleventh  New  York  Battery,  under  command  of  Captain 
Burton,  broke  camp  and  moved  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  on  the  Wilder- 
ness campaign.  It  was  now  a  four-gun  battery,  and  formed  part  of  Fitzhugh  s 
(Third)  Brigade  of  the  Reserve  Artillery.  On  May  17th,  it  was  transferred 
to  the  Artillery  Brigade  of  the  Second  Corps.  It  was  present,  but  not  en- 
gaged, in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness  and  Spotsylvania;  but  it  was  undCT 
fire  at  North  Anna,  Totopotomoy,  and  Cold  Harbor.  The  battery  crossed 
the  James  River,  June  15th,  moving  with  General  Barlow's  Division  to. neat 
Petersburg,  Va.  It  was  actively  engaged  from  June  i6th  to  June  24th,  when 
it  was  relieved,  and  was  held  in  reserve  until  July  26th.  Then  it  moved  with 
the  Second  Corps,  crossing  the  James  River  at  Deep  Bottom,  remaining  there 
until  the  28th,  when  it  returned  to  Petersburg  to  await  the  result  of  the  "  Mine 
Explosion."  August  12th,  the  battery  was  again  on  the  move  for  the  north 
side  of  the  James  River.  On  the  14th,  it  was  actively  engaged  at  the  battle 
of  Strawberry  Plains,  its  efficient  service  on  that  field  eliciting  favorable  men- 
tion in  the  official  report. 

During  the  months  of  September  and  October  it  was  stationed  in  Forts 
Prescott  and  McGilvery,  on  the  Petersburg  line  of  fortifications,  where^  it  had 
a  warm  time  of  it,  and  was  busily  engaged  every  day.  Captain  Burton's  term 
of  enlistment  having  nearly  expired,  and  his  health  being  greatly  impaired,  he 
resigned  his  commission,  October  14,  1864.  He  had  served  with  the  battery 
from  its  organization,  in  1861,  was  a  capable  and  efficient  officer,  faithful  m 
the  discharge  of  his  duties,  and  thoughtful  of  those  under  his  command. 

The  battery  was  now  under  the  command  of  lieut.  James  T.  Wyatt.  Hav- 
ing received  a  number  of  recruits  it  was  equipped  as  a  six-gun  battery,  and 
Sergt.  George  W.  Davey   was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant. 

In  November,  Sergt.  G."  W.  P.  Gale  was  mustered  as  second  lieutenant, 
vice  Lieut.  W.  Redhead,  whose  term  of  service  had  expired.  From  November 
29th  to  December  8th,  the  battery  occupied  Fort  Emory,  after  which  it  was 
transferred  to  Fort  Welch.  During  the  winter  many  of  the  men  went  home  on 
furlough,  those  remaining  enjoying  themselves  as  best  they  could  under  the 
circumstances,  not  forgetting  the  Christmas  festivities  which  were  cheered 
by  the  receipt  of  "  Christmas  Boxes  "  from  home. 

In  January,  1865,  Lieut.  James  T.  Wyatt's  term  of  service  expired,  and  hav- 
ing declined  the  captaincy,  he  was  mustered  out.  Lieut.  George  W.  Davey 
succeeded  him  in  command  of  the  battery,  and  on  March  2d  he  was  mustered 
as  captain.  In  the  meantime,  Sergt.  James  A.  Manning,  A.  G.  Graves,  Jn, 
and  Sergt.  William  Hastings  were  promoted  to  Heutenants. 

March  29th,  the  battery  broke  camp,  moving  with  the  Third  Division,  Second 
Corps,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  closing  campaign  of  the  war.  The  work 
of  the  battery  during  this  campaign  was  Very  severe.  The  roads  for  the  most 
part  were  deep  with  mud,  necessitating  an  immense  amount  of  labor  on  the 
part  of  both  officers  and  men.  It  lost  23  horses,  killed  or  disabled,  and  fired 
640  rounds  of  ammunition,  firing  its  last  shot  during  the  fighting  that  im- 
mediately preceded  the  surrender  of  Appomattox. 

83 


1314  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

On  May  31,  1865,  the  following  order  was  received: 

General  Ordei*  Headquarters  Artillery  Brigade, 

No.  19.  Second   Army  Corps,   May   i,    1865. 

Capt.  George  W-  Davey,  commanding  the  Eleventh  New  York  Battery,  will 
proceed  at  7  a.  m.  to-morrow,  the  2d  inst.,  to  City  Point,  Va.,  and  report  to 
Brigadier  General  Hays,  commanding  Reserve  Artillery. 

The  Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel,  commanding,  desires  to  express  his  gratifi- 
cation at  the  courage  and  promptness  invariably  displayed  by  both  officers 
and  men  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties  on  the  field  of  battle,  the  precision 
of  their  firing  being  worthy  of  remark. 

By  command  of 

Brevet  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hazard. 
A.  M.  Gordon,  A.  A.  G. 

Orders  were  received  May  31st,  to  proceed  to  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  the 
battery  was  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service.  At  the  time  of  the 
final  muster-out,  June  13,  1865,  the  officers'  roster  was: 

George  W.  Davey,  Captain. 

James  A.  Manning,  First  lieutenant. 

Gabriel  N.  P.  Gale,  First  lieutenant. 

Anthony  G.  Graves,  Jr.,  Second  Ueutenant. 

William  Hastings,  Second  lieutenant. 

All  of  these  officers  with  the  exception  of  Lieutenant  Graves  had  served 
with  the  battery  from  its  original  muster  into  the  United  States  service. 

The  Eleventh  New  York  Battery  was  present  or  engaged  at  the  following 
battles : 

Manassas,  Assault  on  Petersburg, 

Chancellorsville,  Wilderness, 

Fredericksburg,  Totopotomoy, 

Gettysburg,  Weldon  Road, 

Spotsylvania,  Deep  Bottom, 

Cold  Harbor,  White  Oak  Road, 

Siege  of  Petersburg,  Fall  of  Petersburg, 

Strawberry  Plains,  Farmville, 

Mine  Run,  Deatonsville, 

North  Anna,  Appomattox. 

Its  losses  were  8  killed,  and  13  who  died  of  disease  or  wounds;  30  were 
wounded,  who  recovered;  and  56  were  discharged  for  disability.  Its  prindpal 
losses  occurred  at  Chancellorsville,  Cold  Harbor,  and  at  the  siege  of  Peters- 
burg. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1315 


PNSCRIPTIONS.) 


(Front.) 

13th  new  YORK  '    : 

INDPT.  LIGHT  BATTERY,  ., 

(Wheeler's) 

ARTILLERY  BRIGADE 

llTH  CORPS 

July  i,  1863,  engaged  here.    July  2,  on  Cemetery  Hile 

July  3,  at  repulse  of  Pickett's  charge 


1316  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT.    . 

13th  independent  BATTERY —  "  WHEELER'S." 

July  4,  1893. 

Address  of  Lieut.  John  P.  McGurrin. 

Veterans  of  the  Thirteenth  New  York  Independent  Battery: 

The  great  importance  of  the  Union  victory  won  at  Gettysburg  by  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  after  three  days'  desperate  fighting,  has  caused  the  govern- 
ment to  purchase  and  lay  out  as  a  National  Military  Park,  the  ground  on 
which  the  Union  troops  fought  and  won  that  victory.  The  national  govern- 
ment has  also  erected  here  a  grand  monument  to  honor  and  commemorate 
the  heroism  and  patriotism  of  the  men  who  on  this  battlefield  gave  their  lives 
for  their  country. 

The  loyal  states  that  were  represented  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  by 
volunteer  mihtary  organizations  have  shown  their  appreciation  of  the  sacrifices, 
made  by  their  sons,  on  this  and  other  battlefields,  by  erecting  here  a  separate 
monument  to  the  deceased  members  of  each  organization.  The  State  of  New 
York  had,  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  a  much  larger  number  of  volunteer 
soldiers  than  any  of  the  other  loyal  states,  and  the  number  of  killed  and 
wounded  of  New  York  State  volunteers  was  much  larger  than  the  number 
of  killed  and  wounded  from  the  volunteers  of  any  of  the  other  states  at 
Gettysburg. 

The  people  of  the  State  of  New  York  did  not  rest  content  with  erecting  a 
monument  to  the  deceased  members  of  each  volunteer  organization  from  that 
state,  but  they  also  erected  here  a  grand  State  monument  to  commemorate 
the  very  important  part  that  the  sons  of  New  York  had  in  winning  the  greatest 
and  most  important  of  all  the  battles  fought  for  the  restoration  of  the  Union. 
The  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  not  only  the  greatest  of  the  battles  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union;  it  was  more  than  that.  It  was  the  pivotal  battle  of 
the  war  —  the  battle  upon  the  result  of  which  depended,  to  a  great  extent, 
the  fate  of  the  nation. 

The  Confederate  army  at  Gettysburg  was  the  best  army  of  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy, composed  as  it  was  of  veterans  of  many  hard-fought  fields,  led  by 
the  ablest  generals  of  the  Confederacy.  They  hoped  and  expected  to  win  on 
the  soil  of  the  loyal  State  of  Pennsylvania  a  great  victory,  and  thus  impress 
the  people  of  the  loyal  states  with  the  futility  of  a  further  prosecution  of  the 
war.  But  they  met  here  their  old  antagonist,  the  great  Army  of  the  Potomac; 
and  after  three  days  of  most  desperate  fighting  the  Confederates  were  com- 
pelled to  acknowledge  defeat,  and  to  retreat  from  the  battlefield  after  suffering 
great  losses  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners. 

This  finest  army  of  the  Confederacy  never  won  a  battle  of  any  importance 
after  its  defeat  at  Gettysburg.  It  retreated  to  its  strongholds  in  Virginia  only 
to  be  driven  from  one  to  another,  until  it  reached  its  last  ditch  at  Appbmattox 
and  surrendered  unconditionally  to  the  general  who  had  hammered  il  unceas- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  13^7 

ingly  until  it  surrendered.  So  we  see  that  the  tide  of  victory  which  was  so 
strongly  turned  in  our  favor  at  Gettysburg  was  never  turned  back,  but  irre- 
sistibly rolled  on  until  it  washed  out  every  vestige  of  opposition  to  the  complete 
restoration  of  the  Union.  This  it  why  the  national  government  and  the  loyal 
states  that  were  represented  by  volunteer  soldiers  in  this  battle  have  joined 
in  doing  honor  to  the  men  who  fought  and  won  the  victory  at  Gettysburg, 
and  saved  the  Union,  which  now  extends  from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  with  all  its  citizens,  North  and 
South,  East  and  West,  ready  and  willing  to  defend  it  with  their  lives  if 
necessary. 

This  visit  to  the  battlefield  of  Gettysburg  vividly  recalls  some  of  the  thrilling 
incidents  of  the  engagement  in  which,  as  members  of  the  Thirteenth  New 
York  Independent  Battery,  we  took  part.  It  recalls  the  rapid  march  of  the 
battery  from  Emmitsburg  to  Gettysburg,  when  on  July  ist,  it  galloped  all 
that  distance  to  take  part  in  the  fight  which  was  being  fiercely  contested  by 
the  First  Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  the  Confederate  forces.  It 
recalls  the  part  taken  in  that  battle  by  the  battery  until  the  enemy,  who  tlien 
greatly  outnumbered  the  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  which  had  reached 
here  up  to  that  time,  threatened  to  surround  and  capture  our  guns,  when  with 
prolonges  hitched  so  as  to  fire  retiring  we  moved  back  to  Cemetery  Hill.  It 
also  recalls  the  part  taken  by  this  command  in  the  battle  of  July  2d,  on  Ceme- 
tery Hill.  It  recalls  to  us  that  when  the  Confederates  under  General  Pickett, 
on  July  3d,  made  their  desperate  attempt  to  overwhelm  the  Union  lines,  the 
battery  was  ordered  to  the  point  known  as  the  "  Bloody  Angle,"  and  there  it 
poured  canister  at  close  range  into  the  ranks  of  the  advancing  Confederates 
until  beaten  and  bafHed  at  every  point  they  retreated  from  the  field  after  suffer- 
ing a  defeat  which  proved  a  death  blow  to  the  Southern  Confederacy, 

Comrades,  our  visit  to  this  battlefield  to-day  is  mainly  for  the  purpose 
of  dedicating  to  our  fallen  comrades  this  monument  erected  to  their  memory 
by  the  people  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Of  the  members  of  the  battery  who 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  only  a  very  few  are  living.  Many  of 
tlTem  gave  their  lives  for  their  country  on  the  battlefields  of  Georgia  and 
I'ennessee  in  1863  and  1864,  and  many  others  died  of  wounds  received  in  those 
campaigns.  Of  the  number  who  returned  to  their  homes  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  many  have  died  of  diseases  contracted  because  of  the  many  hardships 
and  privations  they  had  to  suffer  in  the  many  campaigns  in  which  they  took 
part  during  their  four  years  of  service,  from  1861  to  1865. 

We  sadly  miss  them  to-day,  but  we  miss  more  than  all  the  gallant  and 
brave  Captain  Wheelpr,  who  commanded  the  battery  at  Gettysburg  and  on 
many  subsequent  fields  until  he  gave  his  life  for  his  country  at  the  battle  of 
Kolb's  Farm,  in  Georgia,  on  June  22,  1864. 

The  inscription  on  this  monument  is  most  appropriate.  "The  Thirteenth 
New  York  Independent  Battery  —  Wheeler's!"  It  was  Wheeler's  Battery; 
because  to  him,  as  an  officer  of  the  command  from  its  enlistment,  was  due  the 
efificiency  which  made  it  such  a  valuable  military  organization.  This 
efficiency  was  continued  under  his  successor  in  command,  Capt.  Henry 
Bundy.     He,    also,    was    a   brave    and    capable    officer,    as    was    shown    on 


1318  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

many  occasions,  notably  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Ga.,  July  20,  1864,  when  the 
battery  repulsed  several  determined  charges  of  the  enemy  on  its  front,  and 
also  drove  him  from  its  right  flank  by  changing  front  with  a  section,  bringing 
to  the  Thirteenth  the  thanks  of  General  Hooker,  the  commander  of  the  Twen- 
tieth Corps,  for  the  bravery  and  efficiency  thus  displayed  under  most  trying 
circumstances. 

To  go  into  any  detailed  account  of  the  battles  and  campaigns  in  which 
you  took  part  during  your  four  years'  service  would  make  this  address  too 
long.  We  will,  therefore,  conclude  by  dedicating  to  our  dead  comrades  of 
the  Thirteenth  New  York  Independent  Battery  this  monument  erected  to  their 
memory  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Comrades,  we,  who  shared 
with  them  the  dangers  and  perils  of  many  battles,  the  hardships  and  privations 
of  many  campaigns,  know  how  truly  worthy  our  deceased  comrades  are  of  this 
tribute  of  respect  to  their  memory.  We  know  how  unflinchingly  and  courage- 
ously they  bore  every  sacrifice  demanded  of  them,  because  they  were  willing 
to  do  and  to  suffer  all  things  in  their  power  for  the  restoration  of  the  Union, 
which  they  all  so  dearly  loved,  and  for  which  they  were  willing  to  suffer  even 
death. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH,  BY  LIEUT.  EDWARD  BALDWIN. 

The  Thirteenth  New  York  Independent  Battery,  Volunteer  Light  Artillery, 
was  organized  in  New  York  City.  It  was  mustered  into  service  October  15, 
1861,  and  sent  to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  thence  to  Camp  Observation,  near 
Ball's  Bluff,  Va.,  but  on  the  Maryland  side  of  the  Potomac.  As  the  battery 
had  not  at  that  time  received  its  guns,  it  could  not  take  part  in  the  battle  of 
Ball's  Bluff,  which  occurred  on  the  day  after  its  arrival,  except  by  patrolling 
the  vicinity  of  the  camp,  and  acting  as  sentinels  during  the  absence  of  the 
infantry. 

The  battery  was  ordered  to  Washington  in  December,  remaining  in  camp 
near  that  city  until  February,  1862,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Hunter's  Chapel, 
Va.,  and  assigned  to  Blenker's  Division,  after  receiving  its  six  three-inch  steel 
rifled  guns.  From  Hunter's  Chapel  the  battery  advanced  on  March  17th,  to 
Centreville,  and  thence  to  Manassas  Junctioji. 

At  this  time  one  section  made  a  night  march  to  the  Rappahannock,  and 
hearing  the  reveille  sounded  in  the  enemy's  camp  we  shelled  them.  They 
returned  the  fire,  but  we  suffered  no  loss. 

The  first  commander  of  the  battery,  Capt.  Edward  Sturmfels,  resigned  about 
this  time,  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Capt.  Julius  Dieckmann.  In  May,  the 
battery  was  ordered  to  Washington  to  join  a  force  then  being  organized  for 
service  in  Western  Virginia  under  command  of  General  Fremont. 

The  battery  proceeded  via  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  to  Petersburg, 
and  thence  marched  over  very  rough  mountain  roads  to  the  town  of  Franklin. 
After  a  stay  of  a  few  days  at  that  place  we  retraced  our  route  to  Petersburg 
thence  across  the  mountains  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  down  the  Valley 
in  pursuit  of  the  Confederate  forces  commanded  by  Gen.  "  Stonewall  "  Jackson. 


New  York  at  GETtvsBURG.  ^319 

The  battery  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Cross  Keys  on  June  8,  1862,  and  on 
the  9th,  pursued  the  enemy  to  Port  Republic;  but  as  he  had  crossed  and  burned 
the  bridge  at  that  place  further  pursuit  was  abandoned.  The  battery  remained 
in  the  Valley  at  Mount  Jackson  and  Cedar  Creek  until  July,  when  it  marched 
to  Sperryville  to  join  the  Army  of  Virginia  under  General  Pope. 

On  August  8th,  we  marched  to  Culpeper  Court  House,  and  on  the  9tli, 
went  to  meet  the  enemy  at  Cedar  Mountain,  but  found  they  had  moved  off 
during  the  night. 

The  battery  also  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Rappahannock  Station,  August 
20th;  Freeman's  Ford,  August  21st;  Waterloo  Bridge,  August  22d,  and  White 
Sulphur  Springs,  August  23d. 

On  August  29th,  the  command  arrived  at  Manassas  Junction,  and  near  dark 
was  ordered  to  go  with  all  speed  to  the  aid  of  King's  Division,  which  had 
met  and  engaged  the  enemy  at  Groveton.  The  battery  galloped  the  entire 
distance,  and  went  into  action;  but  darkness  set  in,  and  the  fighting  ceased. 

On  August  30th,  at  daylight,  the  battery,  with  Milroy's  Brigade,  advanced 
on  the  enemy  at  Groveton,  the  men  moving  the  guns  forward  by  hand,  and 
firing  as  we  advanced.  The  enemy  was  in  a  strong  position  behind  an  em- 
bankment, and  after  a  desperate  fight,  Milroy's  Brigade,  finding  they  were 
greatly  outnumbered,  retired  under  cover  of  the  battery's  fire.  In  this  action 
we  lost  I  officer  and  7  men  wounded,  and  a  number  of  horses  shot.  Although 
under  a  heavy  fire  the  men  succeeded  in  removing  the  disabled  horses  from 
the  limbers,  and  took  the  guns  from  the  field.  One  gun  carriage  had  its  axle 
broken  by  a  solid  shot  from  the  enemy,  but  the  men  dismounted  the  gun,  slung 
it  under  the  limber  with  the  prolonge,  and  took  it  from  the  field,  after  de- . 
stroying  the  wheels  to  make  them  useless  to  the  enemy.  One  section  was 
disabled  through  the  loss  of  men  and  horses,  and  the  breaking  of  the  gun 
carriage. 

After  a  short  rest  the  four  serviceable  guns  were  ordered  into  action  to  engage 
a  battery  which  vigorously  shelled  our  troops  as  they  moved  towards  the 
enemy's  position.  We  engaged  a  six-gun  battery  of  the  enemy  at  long  range 
and  two  guns  at  close  range  until  they  ceased  firing  near  sundown.  After 
dark  our  guns  were  withdrawn  from  the  field.  Our  loss  was  i  man  killed 
and  3  dangerously  wounded;  also,  a  number  of  horses  wounded  and  killed. 
The  men  were  pretty  much  used  up,  having  had  hardly  anything  to  eat  for 
twenty-four  hours,  and  had  been  fighting  nearly  all  day. 

On  August  31st,  the  battery  was  in  reserve.  In  the  evening  it  marched  to 
Centreville,  and  thence  to  a  position  several  miles  from  the  fortifications  south 
of  the  Potomac.  While  there  our  disabled  guns  and  horses  were  replaced,  and 
some  men  received  from  a  howitzer  battery  which  had  been  disabled.  Being 
again  in  condition  for  service  the  command  was  ordered  to  Fairfax  Court 
House.  While  there  four  men  with  two  horses  and  a  limber  went  in  charge 
of  Captain  Dahlgren,  of  General  Sigel's  staff,  to  Bull  Run  Bridge,  and  removed 
from  its  carriage  a  gun  which  had  been  abandoned  by  some  battery  because  cf 
a  broken  wheel.  We  slung  the  gun  under  the  limber,  and  succeeded  in  getting 
away  with  it  before  we  were  noticed  by  the  enemy's  pickets,  who  were  but  a 
short  distance  away. 


1320  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

We  next  moved  to  Gainesville,  and  encamped  there  until  December.  We 
then  made  a  forced  march  to  Fredericksburg  at  thp  time  of  the  battle  there, 
but  the  battery  was  not  called  into  action.  We  remained  in  camp  near  Brooke's 
Station  until  the  movement  which  ended  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville.  The 
battery  was  actively  engaged  in  the  battle  of  May  2d,  and  had  i  officer,  Lieu- 
tenant Carlisle,  and  4  men  dangerously  wounded,  and  3  men  mortally  wounded. 
One  section  had  to  be  abandoned  as  all  the  horses  and  most  of  the  men  were 
disabled. 

We  returned  to  Brooke's  Station,  and  remained  there  until  the  opening  of 
the  Gettysburg  campaign.  Captain  Dieckmann  resigned  at  this  time  in  order 
to  accept  a  commission  as  major  of  the  Fifteenth  New  York  Heavy  Artillery, 
and  was  succeeded  in  the  command  of  the  battery  by  Capt.  William  Wheeler. 

After  very  long  and  tiresome  marches,  we  arrived  at  Emmitsburg  on  the 
morning  of  July  1st,  and  at  an  early  hour  were  ready  to  move  at  short  notice. 
When  ordered  forward  it  galloped  all  the  way  to  and  through  the  town  of 
Gettysburg,  and  out  on  the  Carlisle  Road,  to  the  left  of  which  it  took  position. 
It  attacked  the  advancing  enemy  and  kept  fighting  until"  threatened  on  the 
flank  and  rear.  Then,  with  prolonges  hitched  so  as  to  Are  while  retiring,  the 
battery  fell  back  to  Cemetery  Hill.  At  that  place  it  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  July  2d  and  3d.  On  July  3d,  when  Pickett  made  his  famous  charge,  the 
battery  was  ordered  to  that  part  of  the  field.  At  the  "  Bloody  Angle  "  it  went 
into  action  and  continued  firing  until  the  enemy  retreated  from  the  field. 

When  moving  from  this  position  we  hauled  oflf  a  gun  that  had  been  aban- 
doned. This  gun  replaced  one  that  had  been  disabled  on  July  ist.  Our  loos 
was  I  man  killed,  a  number  wounded,  and  4  or  5  missing. 

The  battery  marched  to  Catlett's  Station,  Va.,  and  remained  there  until  the 
Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps  were  ordered  to  Chattanooga  to  reinforce  General 
Rosecrans,  and  open  up  his  line  of  communication  with  his  base  of  supplies. 
It  was  present  at  Wauhatchie  Valley,  when  the  enemy  made  a  night  attack  on 
our  position.  It  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Missionary  Ridge,  November  25th, 
Lookout  Mountain,  November  27th,  Ringgold,  November  27th,  and  marched 
to  aid  in  raising  the  siege  of  Knoxville.  On  November  29th,  we  camped  at 
Bridgeport,  Ala.,  and  in  December,  when  asked  to  continue  in  service  after  our 
term  of  enlistment  expired,  the  battery  re-enlisted  to  continue  in  service  to  tlie 
end  of  the  war. 

In  May,  1864,  we  left  Bridgeport  to  take  part  in  the  campaign  which  culmi- 
nated in  the  capture  of  Atlanta.  The  battery  took  part  in  the  battles  of  ISIill 
Creek  Gap,  May  8th,  and  Resaca,  May  15th.  After  this  battle  the  guns  of 
the  battery  were  exchanged  for  six  twelve-pound  brass  Napoleons.  The  object 
in  this  change  was  to  keep  the  battery  close  to  the  front  of  the  advancing 
columns,  where  it  could  give  the  enemy  canister  at  short  range  as  well  as 
shot  and  shell  at  longer  distance.  General  Hooker  caused  this  change  to  be 
made  because  the  infantry  liked  to  have  a  battery  close  at  hand  when  in  action. 
We  also  were  actively  engaged  at  New  Hope  Church,  May  27th.  At  this  battle 
our  battery  had  2  men  dangerously  wounded,  and  at  the  battle  of  Pine  Knob, 
May  28th,  wje  had  i  man  killed  and  2  wounded.  On  June  22d,  our  corps,  the 
Twentieth,  marched  towards  Kenesaw  Mountain.    The  enemy,  however,  had 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1321 

placed  a  battery  in  a  position  to  sweep  a  clearing  a  mile  long,  over  which  the 
corps  had  to  march  to  Mud  Creek  Gap.  General  Hooker  ordered  Captain 
Wheeler  to  take  the  battery  to  a  hill  about  300  yards  from  the  enemy's  position 
and  silence  that  battery. 

Our  command  galloped  to  the  position  designated,  the  enemy  firing  solid 
shot  at  us  as  we  advanced;  but  they  only  hit  the  stumps  of  trees  along  the  road 
side,  and  pieces  of  wood  and  dirt  flew  around  us  as  we  drove  on.  When  we 
reached  the  top  of  the  hill  it  was  necessary  to  level  places  for  the  gun  carriages; 
else  they  would  recoil  down  its  steep  incline  when  firing  commenced. 

We  loaded  with  case  shot,  and  when  ready  opened  fire  with  the  entire  battery. 
This  broadside  evidently  demoralized  the  enemy's  cannoneers  as  their  fire 
slackened,  and  after  a  few  more  broadsides  they  disappeared.  The  infantry 
were  advancing  in  line  of  battle  now,  and  a  tremendous  cheer  for  the  "  Thir- 
teenth "  went  up  along  the  whole  line.  Our  loss  was  2  men  dangerously 
wounded. 

On  June  22d,  the  battery  was  ordered  to  go  with  all  speed  to  Kolb's  Farm, 
and  occupy  a  position  on  the  right  of  the  line  which  was  unprotected,  and 
against  which  the  enemy  was  advancing.  The  battery  hastened  to  the  place 
designated,  receiving  the  cheers  of  the  infantry  as  we  galloped  past  them. 
It  quickly  opened  on  the  enemy,  who  were  rapidly  nearing  the  position,  and 
succeeded  in  driving  them  back;  not,  hoWever,  until  our  brave  and  beloved 
commander,  Capt.  William  Wheeler,  was  shot  through  the  heart  and  instantly 
killed. 

Captain  Wheeler  had  been  an  officer  in  the  battery  from  the  time  it  was 
organized,  and  had  endeared  himself  to  every  man  in  the  company  by  his 
gallantry  and  gentlemanly  bearing.  His  loss  was  keenly  felt  by  the  entire 
command. 

First  Lieut.  Henry  Bundy  assumed  command,  and  later  he  was  commis- 
sioned as  captain.  He  commanded  the  battery  until  it  was  mustered  out  of 
service.  The  battery  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  June  26th, 
and  in  the  battle  of  Noyes'  Creek. 

On  July  20th,  we  crossed  Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  went  into  position  along 
the  edge  of  some  woods  with  a  large  clear  field  on  its  front.  Shortly  after 
taking  position  the  pickets  came  running  in.  We  looked  for  the  enemy,  but 
seeing  none  we  laughed  at  the  boys  for  running.  A  little  later,  without  firing 
a  shot  or  making  a  sound  of  any  kind,  a  heavy  force  of  infantry  was  in  our 
front  and  coming  on  the  double-quick  for  our  guns.  The  command  was 
given,  "Load  with  canister  quick!"  and  the  guns  poured  canister  into  the 
advancing  ranks  so  rapidly  and  accurately  that  the  enemy's  line  wavered  and 
broke.  But  it  was  quickly  rallied  and  again  advanced  only  to  be  driven  back 
again.  But,  twice  again  he  came  and  was  repulsed,  all  except  a  few  bolder  than 
the  rest,  who  reached  the  right  section.  But  some  of  our  men  seized  hand- 
spikes, and  the  sergeants  using  revolvers  drove  them  back.  A  force  now  came 
through  the  woods  on  our  right  flank,  and  gave  us  a  volley,  which  killed  2 
men,  mortally  wounded  2,  and  severely  wounded  5.  The  captain,  as  soon 
as  he  saw  this  new  danger,  ordered  the  left  section  to  change  front  to  the 
right  and  open  on  the  enemy  on  our  right.     This  was  quickly  done  and  a 


1322  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

charge  of  canister,  together  with  a  stocking  full  of  minie  balls,  of  which  we 
had  probably  thirty  or  forty  stowed  in  our  limber  chests  for  close  work  (the 
men  having  gathered  them  at  different  times  from  fields  of  battle), —  these 
were  poured  into  them  three  times  in  quick  succession.  Reinforcements  of 
infantry  came  to  us  at  this  time  and  drove  the  enemy  from  our  right,  when 
he  fell  back  beaten  at  all  points.  The  enemy's  loss  was  very  heavy,  I2,0CK) 
all  told;  and  in  this  were  5  brigadier  generals  killed  and  wounded.  When 
General  Sherman  came  to  the  scene  of  the  battle.  Peach  Tree  Creek,  General 
Hooker  took  him  to  our  position  to  show  him  the  New  York  battery  that  had 
so  courageously  and  successfully  resisted  and  repulsed  the  successive  and 
desperate  assaults  of  the  enemfy. 

The  company  next  moved  to  a  position  about  800  yards  from  the  enemy's 
fortifications  before  Atlanta,  remaining  there  and  taking  part  in  the  siege,  until 
the  enemy  evacuated  the  city. 

The  battery  entered  Atlanta  on  the  night  of  September  2d,  and  as  we  saw 
no  other  troops  while  marching  through  several  streets  we  believe  we  were 
about  the  first  to  enter  the  city.  In  November,  we  went  by  rail  to  Chattanooga, 
thence  to  Tullahoma,  Tenn.,  and  in  December,  to  Murfreesboro.  The 
enemy  was  discovered  a  short  distance  north  of  Murfreesboro,  when  a  section 
of  our  guns  and  a  force  of  infantry  went  out  to  reconnoitre.  The  enemy's 
artillery  opened  on  us,  our  section  replying  with  shell  for  shell.  A  pretty  little 
artillery  duel  followed,  during  which  we  blew  up  one  of  his  caissons.  We 
sufifered  no  serious  loss,  having  one  horse  killed  and  one  gun  carriage  shattered. 
A  few  days  later  we  occupied  the  position  from  which  the  enemy  fired  on  us. 
We  found  there  several  new-made  graves,  showing  that  they  lost  some  men. 
While  holding  this  position,  four  guns  and  a  force  of  infantry  went  after  the 
enemy  again,  north  of  Murfreesboro,  and  after  a  sharp  artillery  fight  he  fell 
back.     We  had  i  man  killed    and  i  mortally  wounded. 

A  few  days  after,  the  enemy  was  again  reported  advancing  from  the  south 
of  Murfreesboro,  and  again  the  battery  and  infantry  went  out  and  met  him 
and  drove  him  back.  A  week  later  we  went  through  a  similar  performance 
with  a  like  result.     He  disappeared  and  was  not  seen  there  after. 

The  battery  returned  to  Tullahoma,  Tenn.,  in  the  later  part  of  December, 
and  remained  at  that  place  until  July,  1865,  when  it  was  ordered  home.  On 
July  28,  1865,  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  in  New  York  City;  and  thus 
ended  its  four  years'  continuous  service  in  defence  of  the  Union,  having  fought 
in  Virginia,  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  Georgia,  Tennessee,  and  Alabama. 


S 

4^ 

H 

ci- 

"- 

Z 

a 

m 

o 

5 

y 

o 

■< 

" 

O 

o 

33 

r* 

7^ 

t- 

2 

c+ 

m 

? 

-0 

*-^ 

m 

* 

z 

> 

D 

a 

m 

o 

2 

H 

■^ 

^ 

03 

j» 

> 

O] 

-1 

CD 

H 

§ 

m 

33 

(r+ 

< 

c- 

O 

O 

a 

^.^^ 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1323 


(INSCRIPTION.) 


14th  NEW  YORK  IND'P'T  BATTERY 
In  memory  of  Captain  James  McK.  Rorty  and 

FOUR  MEN,  WHO  FELL  AT  THE  "  BlOODY  AnGLE  "  JULY   3,    1863.      ThE 

battery  was  mustered  in  december  9,  1861,  as  part  of  the 

Irish  Brigade.    It  was  detached  therefrom  and  at 

Gettysburg  was  consolidated  with  Battery  B,  ist  N.  Y.  Artillery 


1324  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

14th  independent  BATTERY  LIGHT  ARTILLERY 
"  HOGAN'S  BATTERY." 

Historical  Sketch. 

The  men  composing  this  command  were  recruited  in  New  York  City,  arid 
were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  December  9,  1861,  as  part  of 
the  Irish  Brigade.  They  were  ordered  to  Washington  the  next  weelc,  where 
thi3  battery  was  organized  by  the  consolidation  of  Batteries  B  and  D,  Second 
Battalion,  New  York  Artillery,  with  William  H.  Hogan  as  captain.  At  first 
it  was  known  as  Battery  A  of  that  battalion ;  but  in  October,  1862,  it  was  desig- 
nated as  the  Fourteenth  Independent. 

The  battery  was  equipped  with  six  ten-pounder  Parrott  guns  and  stationed  in 
Washington,  where  it  received  instruction  and  drill  until  March,  1862,  when 
it  was  assigned  to  Richardson's  Division  of  the  Second  Army  Corps,  with 
which  command  it  participated  in  the  Peninsular  campaign. 

On  May  26,  1862,  by  order  of  the  War  Department,  the  first  section  was 
attached  to  Battery  C,  Fourth  United  States  Artillery;  the  second  to  Battery 
G, —  Frank's, —  and  the  third  to  Battery  B, —  Pettit's, —  of  the  First  New 
York  Light  Artillery.  While  on  the  Peninsula  Captain  Hogan  served  on  the 
staiif  of  Gen.  Thomas  Francis  Meagher,  of  the  Irish  Brigade,  from  whom  he 
received  favorable  mention  in  the  official  reports.  He  left  the  battery  subse- 
quently, and  on  April  27,  1863,  Lieut.  James  McKay  Rorty  was  commissioned 
captain. 

At  Chancellorsville,  while  in  command  of  three  guns  of  Battery  C,  Fourth 
United  States  Artillery,  First  Lieut.  William  O'Donohue,  of  the  Fourteenth 
Battery,  was  mortally  wounded.  Lieut.  O'Donohue  commanded  the  section 
of  the  Fourteenth  which  was  attached  to  Thomas's  regular  battery, —  C,  Fourth 
United  States. 

At  Gettysburg,  Captain  Rorty,  of  the  Fourteenth,  commanded  Battery  B,  of 
the  First  New  York  Light  Artillery,  to  which  one  section  of  the  Fourteenth 
Independent  Battery  was  attached.  He  was  killed  during  Pickett's  charge  on 
July  3d,  while  gallantly  defending  his  guns,  which  were  engaged  with  the 
enemy  at  close  range. 

The  first  section  which  had  been  attached  to  Thomas's  Regular  Battery  was 
transferred  to  Battery  B,  First  New  York  Light  Artillery,  to  which  the  third 
section  had  already  been  attached.  The  second  section  remained  with  Battery 
G,  First  New  York,  and  on  September  7,  1863,  by  order  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment, these  transfers  were  made  permanent. 

The  men  composing  the  Fourteenth  Independent  Battery  were  recruited 
almost  wholly  from  our  Irish  citizens.  On  the  many  bloody  battlefields  where 
they  fought  they  sustained  the  fighting  reputation  of  their  race,  and  gave  ample 
proof  of  their  heroic  loyalty  to  the  country  of  their  adoption. 

The  services  of  the  Fourteenth  New  York  Battery  at  Gettysburg  are  apt  to 
be  overlooked,  because  the  men  had  been  previously  detailed  to  Batteries  B 
and  G  of  the  First  New  York  Artillery  whose  officers,  in  their  official  reports 
make  no  mention  of  these  detachments  from  the  Fourteenth. 

On  July  first.  Battery  B,  including  the  detail  from  the  Fourteenth,  arrived  at 
Taneytown,  Md.,  and  encamped  a  short  distance  beyond  the  village.  The  bat- 
tery, which  was  then  in  the  Reserve  Artillery,  was  under  the  command  of  Lieut. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1325 

Albert  S.  Sheldon  of  B.  At  evening  an  order  was  received  transferring  it  to 
Hazard's  Artillery  Brigade  of  the  Second  Corps.  The  battery  after  marching 
all  night  arrived  at  Gettysburg  on  the  morning  of  the  second,  and  went  into 
position  on  the  line  of  battle  of  the  Second  Corps  to  which  it  now  belonged. 
While  awaiting  the  opening  of  the  battle,  Captain  Rorty  of  the  Fourteenth  New 
York  Battery  arrived  and  took  command,  he  having  been  assigned  to  this  duty 
that  day. 

Under  command  of  Captain  Rorty  the  battery  was  actively  engaged  on  the 
evening  of  July  second  in  repelling  the  advance  of  Anderson's  Division,  of 
Hill's  Corps.  In  this  fighting  the  combined  battery  lost  nine  men  in  killed 
and  wounded,  and  thirteen  horses  disabled. 

On  the  morning  of  the  third,  Rorty's  four  guns  — 10  pounder  Parrott's  — 
were  placed  on  Cemetery  Ridge,  next  to  and  south  of  the  famous  "  clump  of 
trees."  The  infantry  of  Gibbon's  Division,  Second  Corps,  were  in  line  to  the 
right,  left,  and  rear.  There  was  but  little  firing  during  the  forenoon.  But  at 
I  p.  M.,  the  Confederates  suddenly  opened  a  cannonade  from  135  guns,  the 
greater  part  of  which  was  concentrated  on  the  batteries  of  the  Second  Corps. 
The  Union  artillery  replied  with  vigor,  and  for  over  an  hour  200  pieces  of 
artillery  were  engaged  in  an  appalling  tumultuous  conflict.  At  no  place  was 
the  Confederate  fire  more  deadly  and  destructive  than  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  Rorty's  guns.  His  command  lost  more  men  killed  than  any  other  battery 
at  Gettysburg.  During  the  action  Captain  Rorty  was  killed  and  Lieutenant 
Sheldon  was  wounded. 

The  Confederate  artillery  fire  having  ceased,  a  double  line  of  gray  clad 
infantry,  14,000  strong,  advanced  to  the  assault.  Moving  across  the  interven- 
ing plain  in  perfect  order  and  steady  movement  they  crossed  the  Emmitsbarg 
Pike,  and  then  rushed  in  a  desperate  charge  against  the  position  of  the  Second 
Corps.  Pushing  through  an  opening  in  the  line  a  party  of  Confederates 
reached  the  guns  of  Battery  B,  but  were  driven  back  by  the  artillerymen,  who 
fought  with  handspikes,  rammers,  and  whatever  weapons  came  handy.  The 
attack  was  repulsed  all  along  the  line,  and  Longstreet's  column  fell  back  in 
disorder  to  Seminary  Ridge. 

Of  the  twenty-six  officers  and  men  killed  or  wounded  in  Battery  B,  Gavin, 
Halloran,  Rorty,  Buckley,  and  McGowan  belonged  to  the  Fourteenth  New 
York. 

While  part  of  the  Fourteenth  were  thus  fighting  in  the  ranks  of  Battery  B, 
the  others  were  acquitting  themselves  nobly  at  the  guns  of  Battery  G,  Ames's, 
whichj  on  the  second  day,  were  stationed  at  the  Peach  Orchard,  while  they  had 
the  honor  of  opening  the  battle.  Of  the  men  killed  in  this  battery,  George 
Tompkins  belonged  to  the  detachment  from  the  Fourteenth. 

Captain  James  McKay  Rorty  entered  the  service  at  the  beginning  of  the  war 
as  an  enlisted  man  in  the  Sixty-ninth  Infantry.  He  was  commissioned  Second 
Lieutenant,  November  17,  1861,  in  the  Fourteenth  Independent  Battery;  and 
First  Lieutenant,  December  9,  1862 ;  and  Captain,  April  27,  1863.  The  men  of 
the  Fourteenth  having  been  detailed  for  service  in  other  batteries.  Captain. 
Rorty  was  left  temporarily  without  a  command,  during  wbidh  he  served  as  a 
staff  officer  in  the  Second  Corps.  On  the  second  day  at  Gettysburg  he  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  Battery  B, —  to  which  a  large  number  of  his  men 
had  already  been  detailed, —  and  assumed  charge  as  it  was  about  to  engage  the 
enemy.  He  was  killed  the  next  day.  Captain  Hazard,  the  commander  of  the 
artillery  brigade,  says  in  his  official  report :—  "  In  the  death  of  Capt.  J.  M. 
Rorty  the  brigade  has  lost  a  worthy  officer,  a  gallant  soldier,  and  an  estimable 
man." 


1326  New  York  at  Gettysburcs. 


(INSCRIPTIONS.") 


(Front.) 

ISTH  N.  Y. 

BATTERY 

(Reverse.) 

15TH 

INDEPT.  N.  Y. 

LIGHT  BATTERY 

1ST  BRIGADE 

ARTILLERY  RESERVE 

Captain  Patrick  Hart 

Lieut.  Edward  M.  Knox 

Formerly  Light  Battery  B, 

Irish  Brigade, 

July  2,  1863 

Killed  3,  wounded  13 

Total  loss,  16. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1327 


DEDICATION  OF  MONUMENT. 
15th  independent  BATTERY —  "  HART'S." 

July  2,  1888. 

Address  by  Lieut.  Edward  M.  Knox. 

"By  piece  from  the  right,  front  into  column!  Forward  march!  Trot  out! 
Gallop!    Action  front!    In  battery!" 

These,  comrades,  were  the  commands  that  brought  us  to  this  identical  spot 
a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  which  seems  as  but  yesterday  to  our  lives.  To-day 
I  call  the  roll  of  the  Fifteenth  New  York  Independent  Battery;  but  thirteen 
"  present  or  accounted  for."  Where  are  the  rest  of  the  men,  the  gallant  hun- 
dred who  came  into  action  with  us  here  twenty-five  years  ago. 

Soldiers,  every  man;  sturdy  of  limb,  strong  of  heart,  each  the  peer  of  any 
monarch  in  Christendom.  For  those  who  died  here,  for  our  comrades  who 
galloped  into  this  Peach  Orchard  and  left  all  that  was  mortal,  we  reverently 
breathe  their  names,  recall  their  heroic  action,  and  will,  as  long  as  memory  is 
green,  cherish  the  recollection  of  their  bravery.  We  unveil  this  monuinent  as 
an  ofifering  to  their  patriotic  valor,  and  by  our  presence  here  reaffirm  our 
allegiance  to  our  government  and  our  flag. 

Our  comrades  did  not  die  in  vain.  Comrades  of  the  long  ago,  in  those  stir- 
ring days, —  aye,  years, —  that  tried  our  manhood  and  united  us  in  that  af- 
fectionate feeling  that  can  only  be  enjoyed  and  understood  by  those  who  have 
drank  from  the  same  canteen,  we  will  never  meet  here  again;  but  we  will  for- 
ever bear  in  our  hearts  the  proud,  consoling  thought  that  we  did  our  duty  to 
our  country  during  our  lives.  When  the  final  reveille  shall  sound  for  us, 
let  it  be  found  that  neither  were  we  lacking  in  our  duty  to  our    God. 

Comrades,  I  greet  you;  I  respect  you;  I  love  you  all;  and  I  will  hold  you 
in  my  heart  until  the  end.  The  proudest  leaf  in  my  history  will  record  the  fact 
that  I  was  a  member  of  "  Light  Artillery  B,  Irish  Brigade,  Army  of  the 
Potomac !  "  Stand  here,  oh  block  of  granite,  against  all  storms  of  time !  Stand 
as  we  stood  beneath  that  July's  scorching  heat,  and  that  rain  of  iron  hail !  Hold 
your  place  along  this  line  of  monuments  that  mark  the  graves  of  those  who  so 
grandly  and  bravely  died.  Hold  it  as  our  battery  held  the  line,  till  victory 
throughout  the  world  proclaims  "  Peace  on  Earth,  Good  Will  to  Men! " 


HISTORICAL  NOTES. 

The  Fifteenth  Independent  Battery  was  formed  in  December,  1861,  by  unit- 
ing Batteries  A  and  C  of  the  Second  Battalion,  New  York  Light  Artillery,  after 
which  it  was  designated  as  Battery  B  of  that  command.  This  battalion  was 
raised  in  New  York  City,  the  men  having  been  recruited  prior  to  December  9, 
1861,  at  which  time  the  battery  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for 
three  years.    It  war  organized  with  the  expectation  that  it  would  be  attached 


1328  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

to  the  Irish  Brigade;  but,  owing  to  the  exigencies  of  the  service,  it  was  ordered 
elsewhere,  and  its  connection  with  that  famous  organization  was  only  nominal. 

In  December,  1861,  the  battery,  then  under  command  of  Capt.  Henry  J. 
McMahon,  was  ordered  to  Washington.  It  remained  there  about  four  months, 
during  which  time  it  received  its  equipment  and  was  instructed  in  artillery 
drill  and  camp  duty.  Its  armament  at  the  time  consisted  of  six  three-inch 
rifled  guns.  In  March,  1862,  it  was  assigned  to  Williams'  Division,  of  Banks' 
Corps,  and,  in  May,  to  Doubleday's  Brigade  of  McDowell's  Corps,  with  which 
it  participated  in  the  preliminary  movements  of  the  campaign  to  the  Rappa- 
hannock. In  September,  1862,  the  battery  was  ordered  to  Maryland,  and  sta- 
tioned at  the  Relay  House.  While  there  its  designation  was  changed  to  that 
of  the  Fifteenth  Independent  Battery,  New  York  Light  Artillery. 

Captain  McMahon  having  left  the  service,  he  was  succeeded  in  February, 
1863,  by  Capt.  Patrick  Hart,  with  whose  name  the  battery  subsequently  be- 
came identified,  and  under  whose  command  it  achieved  honorable  distinction. 
Having  been  assigned  to  the  Artillery  Reserve  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
the  battery,  under  command  of  Captain  Hart,  was  engaged  at  the  second  battle 
before  Fredericksburg,  May  1-4,  1863,  but  without  sustaining  any  loss. 

During  the  Gettysburg  campaign  Hart's  Battery  was  attached  to  McGilvery's 
Brigade,  of  the  Reserve  Artillery.  It  was  equipped  at  this  time  with  four  brass 
guns,  twelve-pounder  smooth  bores,  known  as  Napoleons.  Marching  with  the 
Reserve  Artillery  it  left  Falmouth,  Va.,  on  June  13th,  and  moving  northward 
with  Hooker's  army  crossed  the  Potomac  into  Maryland,  arriving  at  Frederick 
City  on  the  27th.  It  halted  there  two  days.  On  the  30th  the  brigade  arrived  at 
TaneytownJ  thirteen  miles  from  Gettysburg,  where  it  remained  encamped  dur- 
ing the  first  day's  battle.  At  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  July  2d,  the  brigade 
started  for  the  battlefield,  arriving  there  about  10:30  a.  m.  The  batteries  as 
they  arrived  were  placed  in  reserve  on  a  cross-road  which  runs  from  the  Taney- 
town  Road  to  the  Baltimore  Pike  in  rear  of  the  position  held  by  the  Third 
Corps. 

Everything  seemed  quiet  along  the  lines,  with  no  firing  to  be  heard  except 
that  of  some  distant  pickets  and,  at  long  intervals,  an  occasional  cannon  shot. 
At  4  p.  m.  Captain  Hart  was  ordered  to  take  his  battery  to  the  front,  and  go 
into  position  on  General  Sickles'  line.  General  Hunt,  the  chief  of  artillery  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  placed  the  battery  at  4:30  p.  m.  in  the  Peach  Orchard, 
with  the  four  guns  pointed  south,  from  which  position  they  opened  on  the 
enemy's  artillery,  using  solid  shot  and  shell  with  such. good  effect  that  one 
of  the  opposing  batteries  was  forced  to  withdraw.  But  the  enemy  brought 
up  fresh  batteries,  some  of  which,  having  a  cross-fire,  proved  destructive  to 
Hart's  men  and  horses. 

This  artillery  fire  was  succeeded  by  a  strong  infantry  advance,  a  part  of  Ker- 
shaw's South  Carolina  Brigade  attacking  the  south  front  of  the  Peach  Orchard 
where  Hart's  guns  were  in  line.  He  ordered  his  gunners  to  use  shrapnel, 
which  was  soon  changed  to  canister  as  the  advancing  lines  of  Confederate  in- 
fantry came  within  close  range.  This  attack  was  repulsed  by  the  battery;  the 
enemy  formed  for  a  second  charge  arid  were  repulsed  again.  But  the  batterv 
having  exhausted  its  stock  of  canister,  and  having  nothing  left  in  the  caissons 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1329 

except  some  solid  shot,  was  obliged  to  withdraw.  It  was  in  action  at  this 
place  over  two  hours.  It  then  limbered  to  the  rear  of  the  main  line  where  it 
repaired  damages  and  replenished  the  ammunition  chests,  after  which  it  re- 
ported to  General  Tyler  that  it  was  again  ready  for  action. 

On  July  3d, —  the  third  day  of  the  battle,—  the  Fifteenth  Battery  took  part 
in  the  grand  cannonade  which  was  such  a  prominent  feature  of  the  day's  con- 
test. It  was  posted  with  the  rest  of  McGilvery's  Artillery  Brigade  at  a  point 
in  the  line  about  half  way  between  Cemetery  Hill  and  Little  Round  Top.  When 
the  Confederate  infantry  advanced,  at  the  close  of  the  artillery  fire,  the  battery 
assisted  in  the  repulse  of  Wilcox's  and  Perry's  brigades,  using  double  charges 
of  canister  on  their  ranks.  During  the  artillery  fire  with  which  the  enemy 
sought  to  cover  the  retreat  of  their  infantry,  the  Fifteenth  New  York  Battery 
achieved  signal  success  by  exploding  two  of  his  caissons  and  dismounting  two 
guns  by  well-directed  shots  aimed  by  Sergeant  Sheehy  and  Corporal  Hammond. 
The  battery  carried  2  officers  and  68  men  into  action  at  Gettysburg,  of  whom 
16  were  killed  or  wounded.  Captain  Hart  being  among  the  latter.  Lieutenant 
Knox,  who  was  severely  wounded,  is  mentioned  in  Captain  Hart's  report  as 
one  whose  "  noble  and  gallant  conduct  deserves  the  highest  honor  that  could 
be  conferred  on  him."  In  addition  to  the  casualties  among  the  men,  the  battery 
lost  25  horses  killed  or  wounded. 

After  Gettysburg  the  battery  participated  in  the  fall  campaign,  being  present 
at  Rappahannock  Station  and  Mine  Run,  after  which  it  went  into  winter 
quarters  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  near  Culpeper,  Va. 

Breaking  camp  early  on  the  morning  of  May  5,  1864,  Captain  Hart  and 
his  command  moved  with  Grant's  army  on  the  Wilderness  campaign,  during 
which  it  was  present  or  engaged  in  that  long  series  of  hard-fought  battles.  On 
May  23,  1864,  the  battery  was  in  action  at  the  North  Anna,  where  it  was  under 
fire  and  several  of  the  men  were  wounded. 

It  was  attached,  at  this  time,  to  the  Artillery  Brigade  of  the  Fifth  Corps, 
having  been  transferred  from  the  Reserve  Artillery  on  May  i6th.  At  Cold 
Harbor  further  losses  in  killed  and  wounded  were  sustained  while  in  the  works 
in  front  of  that  place. 

During  the  assault  on  Petersburg,  June  17,  1864,  the  battery  was  actively 
engaged,  its  guns  being  run  up  well  to  the  front  and  placed  within  easy  canister 
range  of  the  enemy's  earthworks  and  artillery.  Captain  Hart  and  his  men 
received  special  mention  in  the  official  reports  for  the  courage  and  skill  with 
which  they  handled  their  guns  on  this  occasion.  In  addition  to  the  losses 
sustained  in  this  action,  several  men  were  killed  or  wounded  in  the  trenches 
before  Petersburg  during  the  long  siege  that  followed  this  first  assault. 

On  the  morning  of  August  18,  1864,  the  battery  left  its  camp  near  the  Avery 
House,  in  front  of  Petersburg,  and,  accompanying  the  Fifth  Corps,  moved  to  a 
point  on  the  Weldon  Railroad  where  a  general  engagement  occurred.  Hart's 
guns  went  into  position  near  the  Blick  House,  and  west  of  it.  Later  in  the  day 
the  pieces  were  placed  about  twenty  rods  farther  west.  The  battle  opened  on 
the  next  day  about  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  Confederates  attacking  vigor- 
ously in  order  to  drive  the  Fifth  Corps  from  its  position.    In  this  fight,  Hart's 

84 


1330  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Battery,  with  others  of  the  Artillery  Brigade,  assisted  materially  in  checking 
the  advance  of  the  enemy. 

But  the  battle  was  not  over.  On  the  next  day,  August  20th,  the  artillerymen 
busied  themselves  in  throwing  up  earthworks  in  front  of  the  guns,  putting 
down  platforms,  and  strengthening  their  position  generally.  The  enemy  re- 
newed the  attack  on  the  21st,  but  were  again  repulsed,  the  artillery  takmg  a 
prominent  part  in  the  fighting.  At  no  battle  in  the  Virginia  campaigns  of  1864 
was  artillery  used  so  effectively  as  at  the  Weldon  Railroad. 

The  Fifteenth  New  York  Battery  did  its  share,  as  is  evident  from  the  official 
reports.  Colonel  Wainwright,  commander  of  the  Artillery  Brigade,  Fifth 
Corps,  says  in  his  report:  "  The  advanced  position  held  by  Hart's  and  Mink's 
Batteries,  especially  the  former,  afforded  these  commanders  greater  opportuni- 
ties to  display  their  promptness  in  changing  front,  while  they  were  also  more 
exposed  than  others.  The  manner  in  which  they  handled  their  guns  is  worthy 
of  the  highest  praise." 

In  the  battle  at  the  Weldon  Railroad  the  Fifteenth  Battery  lost  11  men 
killed  or  wounded;  a  severe  loss,  as  it  only  had  4  guns  at  this  time. 

Three  months  later,  in  November,  the  battery  was  ordered  to  Washington, 
where  it  remained  for  a  short  time  in  the  defences  of  that  city.  During  this 
period  it  was  attached  to  the  Twenty-second  Corps.  In  December  it  moved 
to  Harper's  Ferry,  where  it  was  consolidated,  February  4,  1865,  with  "  Kus- 
serow's  Battery," —  the  Thirty-second  New  York  Independent  Battery  —  Cap- 
tain Hart  being  retained  in  command.  The  Thirty-second  Battery,  still  under 
command  of  Captain  Hart,  was  mustered  out  of  service  July  14,  1865,  at  New 
York  City. 

The  guns  that  had  thundered  on  so  many  battlefields  were  turned  over  to  the 
Ordnance  Department,  and  the  veterans  who  had  stood  by  them  so  bravely  re- 
turned to  the  quiet  walks  of  peace. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


NEW  YORK   GENERALS 


AT 


GETTYSBURG. 


[The  rank  given' in  the  title  of  each  biography  is  that  held  by  the  officer  at  Gettys- 
burg, and  the  sketches  follow  each  other  according  to  priority  of  commission.] 

1331 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  I333 


MAJ.  GEN.  HENRY  W.  SLOCUM,  U.  S.  V. 

Born  September  24,  1826, 
Died  April  14,  1894. 

New  York  may  well  be  proud  of  General  Slocum.  Not  only  at  Gettysburg 
but  throughout  the  entire  war  he  was  conspicuous  for  superior  military  talent 
and  successful  achievement.  Modest  and  unpretending  his  repeated  promotion 
was  due  to  the  signal  ability  which  he  displayed  in  whatever  command  was 
assigned  to  him.  In  the  extent  to  which  he  personally  participated  in  active 
operations  at  the  front,  from  1861  to  1865,  he  was  not  exceeded  by  any  other 
general  in  the  war.  He  fought  at  First  Bull  Run,  and,  as  commander  of  the 
Army  of  Georgia,  rode  in  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington  after  the  last  battle 
had  been  foiight. 

In  all  his  battles,  whether  a  commander  of  a  division,  corps,  or  army,  he 
achieved  an  unbroken  success.  Though  at  times  defeat  may  have  befallen 
the  army  to  which  he  belonged,  no  sign  of  rout  or  disaster  was  ever  seen  in 
the  columns  under  his  command.  His  old  corps  is  the  one  in  all  the  armies  that 
makes  the  proud  claim  that  it  never  lost  a  color  or  a  gun. 

In  civil  and  political  life  he  displayed  the  same  sterling  worth  and  integrity 
that  marked  his  course  as  a  soldier  and  a  general.  It  was  only  his  refusal  to 
sanction  political  methods  which  he  considered  doubtful  that  barred  his  path- 
way to  the  highest  office  in  the  Nation's  gift.  His  entire  life  was  above  re- 
proach, reflecting  a  glorious  lustre  on  the  State  in  which  he  was  born,  and  in 
which  he  lived  and  died. 

Henry  Warner  Slocum  was  born  September  24,  1826,  in  the  village  of  Delphi, 
Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.  He  came  of  good  New  England  stock,  his  ances- 
tors having  lived  for  three  generations  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  from  whence  his 
father,  Matthew  B.  Slocum,  moved  to  Albany  in  1812,  and  thence  to  Delphi, 
where  he  followed  the  business  of  a  village  merchant  He  had  eleven  children, 
of  whom  Henry- was  the  sixth. 

Young  Slocum  was  educated  at  the  Cazenovia  Seminary  and  at  the  State 
Normal  School  in  Albany,  after  which  he  entered  the  United  States  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point,  in  1848,  having  received  an  appointment  through  the 
Hon.  Daniel  F.  Gott,  Member  of  Congress.  While  at  the  Academy,  Philip 
H.  Sheridan  was  assigned  to  him  as  a  room-mate,  and  General  Sheridan  in  his 
Memoirs,  while  speaking  highly  of  Slocum's  character  as  a  man,  adds  interest- 
ing testimony  to  his  high  standing  as  a  cadet. 

Although  he  had  not,  like  many  of  his  classmates,  the  advantage  of  a  col- 
legiate education  before  entering  West  Point,  Slocum  graduated  seventh  in  a 
class  of  forty-three,  and  received  in  June,  1852,  a  commission  as  second  lieu- 
tenant in  the  First  Artillery.  After  serving  in  the  Seminole  War  he  was  sta- 
tioned for  three  years  at  Fort  Moultrie,  S.  C.  During  his  stay  at  the  latter 
place  he  received  a  furlough,  and,  returning  home,  was  married,  February  9, 


1334  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

1854,  at  Woodstock,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Oara  Rice,  the  engagement  having  been 
made  while  both  were  students  at  Cazenovia  Seminary. 

While  in  garrison  at  Fort  Moultrie,  Lieutenant  Slocum  improved  his  idle 
days  by  reading  law,  studying  under  the  direction  of  Hon.  B.  C.  Presley,  who, 
subsequently,  was  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  South  Carolina.  In  the 
meantime  Slocum  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenantcy,  but  there  being  no 
prospect  of  active  operations,  and  garrison  life  proving  irksome,  he  resigned  in 
1857.  Returning  to  Onondaga  County  he  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in 
Syracuse,  was  made  county  treasurer  soon  after,  and  in  1859  a  member  of  the 
State  Legislature. 

At  the  first  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  Slocum,  impelled  by  a  sense  of  duty 
to  the  government  which  had  educated  him,  tendered  his  services  to  his  native 
State,  and  on  May  21,  1861,  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Twenty-seventh 
New  York  Volunteers,  a  gallant  regiment  of  infantry  which  subsequently  dis- 
tinguished itself  on  many  bloody  battlefields  of  the  war. 

While  in  command  of  this  regiment  he  fought  with  honorable  distinction  at 
First  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861,  in  which  action  he  was  severely  wounded.  Within 
two  months  he  was  at  the  front  again,  having,  in  the  meantime,  on  August  9th, 
been  promoted  to  brigadier  general  of  volunteers,  and  assigned  to  a  brigade  in 
Franklin's  Division.  When  Franklin  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  corps  — 
the  Sixth  —  General  Slocum  was  advanced  to  the  command  of  the  division. 

On  the  Peninsular  campaign  General  Slocum  achieved  special  distinction 
at  the  battle  of  Gaines's  Mill  where,  after  recrossing  the  Chickahominy,  he 
promptly  put  his  fine  division  into  action  on  the  double-quick,  at  a  critical 
period  in  that  memorable  engagement.  His  division  was  also  engaged  in  the 
subsequent  actions  of  the  Seven  Days  Battle,  and  on  arriving  at  the  James 
River  he  received,  July  4,  1862,  notice  of  his  promotion  to  major  general  of 
volunteers.  His  command  was  next  engaged  at  Second  Bull  Run,  August  30, 
1862,  where  it  covered  the  retreat  of  General  Pope's  army. 

But  the  most  successful  achievement  of  Slocum's  Division  occurred  on  the 
Maryland  campaign,  in  which  it  won  a  brilliant  victory  at  the  storming  of 
Crampton's  Pass,  September  14,  1862.  This  pass  in  the  South  Mountain  was 
held  by  a  large  force  of  Confederate  troops,  posted  in  an  unusually  strong 
position.  But  Slocum,  having  completed  his  plans,  gave  the  order  for  the 
assault,  and  his  gallant  veterans  swept  up  the  mountain  side,  dislodging  the 
enemy  and  capturing  four  stands  of  colors,  together  with  many  prisoners. 

After  participating  in  the  battle  of  Antietam,  General  Slocum's  conspicuous 
services  were  further  recognized  by  his  assignment  to  the  command  of  the 
Twelfth  Corps,  succeeding  General  Mansfield,  who  was  killed  at  Antietam. 

At  Chancellorsville  the  Twelfth  Corps,  in  company  with  the  Third,  withstood 
the  brunt  of  the  battle;  yet  amid  all  the  rout  and  confusion  incidental  to  the 
defeat  of  the  army.  General  Slocum  handled  his  troops  with  coolness  and  effi- 
ciency, his  corps  moving  off  the  field  in  perfect  order  at  the  close  of  the  fightin^r 
without  a  color  or  a  cannon  missing.  During  the  flank  movement  preliminary 
to  this  battle,  General  Slocum  commanded  the  right  wing  of  the  army,  con- 
sisting of  the  Fifth,  Eleventh,  and  Twelfth  Corps.  His  own  corps  was  the 
first  to  cross  the  Rapidan,  and  the  last  to  recross  the  Rappahannock  River. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  i335 

At  Gettysburg  he  commanded  the  entire  field  at  one  time  while  awaiting 
General  Meade's  arrival.  He  had  command  of  the  right  wing  also  during  the 
battle,  and  in  the  famous  defence  of  Gulp's  Hill  and  recapture  of  the  breast- 
works on  the  right,  fought  out  a  desperate  but  successful  contest  which  was 
distmctively  his  own.  Maj.  Gen.  O.  O.  Howard,  himself  a  corps  commander 
at  Gettysburg,  stated  in  a  pubUc  address  that: 

"  Slocum's  resolute  insistence,  on  the  2d  of  July,  upon  leaving  General  Greene 
and  his  brigade  as  just  a  little  precaution,  when  General  Meade  asked  that  the 
whole  Twelfth  Corps  be  sent  to  the  assistance  of  his  left, —  two  miles  away, — 
this  insistence,  followed  by  Greene's  marvelous  night  battle,  and  more  still, 
Slocum's  organized  work  and  engagement  of  the  ensuing  early  morning,  in  my 
judgment,  prevented  Meade's  losing  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  It  was  a  grand 
judgment  and  attion  of  Slocum's;  a  step  all  important  and  essential  to  victory." 

In  the  long  discussion  at  the  famous  council  of  war  convened  by  General 
Meade  at  Gettysburg,  Slocum  won  the  heart  of  every  soldier  by  his  timely, 
laconic  opinion,  to  "  Stay  and  fight  it  out." 

He  furnished  his  corps  on  the  third  day  of  the  battle  a  fresh  supply  to  replace 
exhausted  ammunition  and  rations  at  the  culmination  of  the  enemy's  assault, 
to  be  in  readiness  for  the  expected  order  to  follow  and  pursue. 

After  Gettysburg,  in  September,  1863,  the  Twelfth  Corps  was  ordered  to 
the  rehef  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  at  Chattanooga,  and  General  Slocum 
was  detached  soon  after  and  placed  in  command  of  the  district  of  Vicksburg, 
Miss.  He  returned  to  the  front  during  the  Atlanta  campaign,  succeeding  Gen- 
eral Hooker  in  the  command  of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  an  organization  formed 
by  the  consolidation  of  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corpp.  General  Slocum 
commanded  the  Twentieth  during  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  and  his  troops  were 
the  first  to  enter  the  city.  - 

During  the  March  to  the  Sea  he  commanded  the  left  wing  of  Sherman's 
army,  his  command  consisting  of  the  Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  Corps  and 
designated  as  the  Army  of  Georgia.  After  capturing  Milledgeville,  Slocum's 
army,  on  arriving  at  the  sea,  laid  siege  successfully  to  the  city  of  Savannah. 

Starting  northward  in  January,  1865,  General  Slocum,  still  in  command  of 
the  Army  of  Georgia,  entered  upon  the  campaign  in  the  Carolinas,  during 
which  his  command  fought  successfully  the  battles  of  Averasborough  and 
Bentonville,  the  latter  engagement  resulting  in  the  final  defeat  and  capitulation 
of  the  Confederate  army  under  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston. 

The  war  having  ended.  General  Slocum  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  Military  Department  of  Mississippi,  an  important  and  honorable  trust.  But 
with  the  return  of  peace  he  sheathed  his  sword  and  returned  to  the  quiet  pur- 
suits of  civic  life.  His  resignation  was  dated  September  28,  1865.  A  desirable 
position  in  the  regular  army  was  subsequently  tendered  him  by  the  govern- 
ment, but  he  declined  the  offer,  and  taking  up  his  residence  in  Brooklyn  re- 
sumed the  profession  of  law. 

Political  honors  and  nominations  were  tendered  him  in  rapid  succession  and 
he  served  six  years  in  Congress.  Prior  to  the  war  he  had  been  an  outspoken 
anti-slavery  man  and  a  Republican.  During  the  war  he  withdrew  himself  en- 
tirely from  all   connection  with   political   affairs,  and  never  by  word  or  sign 


1336  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

recognized  anything  outside  of  his  duties  as  a  soldier.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  when  preferment  waited  on  Republican  soldiers  he  coolly  became  a  Demo- 
crat. The  Republicans  would  have  made  him  Secretary  of  State,  but  he  joined 
the  opposition  for  reasons  "  that  took  political  pacification  and  not  personal 
success  into  account." 

He  was  never  an  office  seeker,  although  his  availabiUty  as  a  candidate  brought 
frequent  offers  of  political  nominations.  But  he  was  above  all  intrigue,  and 
his  high  standard  of  political  integrity  precluded  the  methods  by  which  prefer- 
ment is  too  often  obtained.  He  would  have  been  nominated  for  Governor  in 
1882  were  it  not  for  a  local  opposition  that  was  creditable  to  him;  he  lacked 
only  a  few  votes.  Had  he  been  the  nominee  he  would  have  received  the  same 
phenomenal  majority  which  was  subsequently  given  to  his  opponent  in  the  con- 
vention, and  which  proved  an  open  door  to  the  Presidency. 

But  he  cared  nothing  for  office,  only  so  far  as  it  afforded  an  opportunity  to 
serve  the  State  or  accomplish  some  good  work.  At  one  time,  when  any  office 
within  the  gift  of  the  State  could  have  been  his  for  the  asking,  he  waved  a^ide 
all  other  ofifers,  and  accepted  from  Governor  Lucius  Robinson  the  appointment 
of  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Soldiers'  Home,  at  Bath,  N.  Y., 
a  position  without  salary  or  emolument,  assuming  its  cares  and  responsibilities 
solely  through  a  desire  to  do  something  towards  the  assistance  of  the  needy 
veterans,  whose  condition  appealed  strongly  to  his  sympathy  and  sense  of  duty. 

He  was  one  of  the  commissioners  named  in  the  act  passed  by  the  State 
Legislature  in  1886,  establishing  the  "  New  York  Monuments  Commission 
for  the  Battlefield  of  Gettysburg,"  and  served  on  that  Board  until  his  death. 

In  the  practice  of  his  profession  he  displayed  signal  ability,  through  which, 
in  connection  with  some  special  business  enterprise  that  he  undertook,  he 
amassed  a  splendid  fortune. 

He  died  in  Brooklyn,  April  14,  1894,  after  a  short  illness,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven  years,  "  and  the  good  gray  head  that  all  men  knew,"  disappeared  from 
the  walks  of  men. 

Glorious  in  war,  and  honored  in  peace,  he  will  ever  live  in  the  history  of  the 
State,  and  stand  pre-eminent  in  the  Valhalla  of  the  Nation's  heroes. 


MAJ.  GEN.  DANIEL  E,  SICKLES,  U.  S.  A. 

Of  the  sons  of  New  York  who  entered  military  life,  none  attained  greater 
prominence  than  General  Sickles.  He  was  a  conspicuous  figure  in  many  of 
the  great  battles  fought  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  any  history  of  Gettys- 
burg would  be  incomplete  without  mention  of  his  name. 

Daniel  Edgar  Sickles  was  born  in  New  York  City,  October  20,  1825.  He 
was  educated  at  the  University  of  the  City  of  New  York,  after  which  he  studied 
law  and  followed  that  profession  in  New  York  City,  having  been  admitted  to 
tlie  bar  when  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age. 

Becoming  interested  in  political  affairs  he  was  elected,  the  following  year, 
a  member  of  Assembly  on  the  Democratic  ticket.    He  soon  attained  a  promi- 


Ai  rtu^^^^^i 


7 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1337 

nent  position  in  the  Albany  Legislature,  his  energy  and  parliamentary  abilities 
niaking  him  a  leader  in  his  own  party.  In  1853  he  was  appointed  corporation 
counsel  of  New  York  City,  an  office  which  he  held  for  a  short  time  only,  as 
he  was  commissioned  a  few  months  later  by  President  Pierce  as  Secretary  of 
tht;  American  Legation  at  London,  and  accompanied  James  Buchanan,  then 
Minister  to  St.  James,  on  his  voyage  to  England. 

The  diplomatic  service  offering  few  attractions  to  the  young  secretary,  he 
returned  two  years  later,  and  re-entering  the  arena  of  New  York  politics  was 
elected  State  Senator  in  1855,  after  a  well-contested  fight  on  both  sides.  The 
favorable  impression  which  he  had  made  in  public  life  made  him  the  recipient 
of  further  political  favors.  Before  his  term  as  State  Senator  expired  he  was 
elected,  in  1856,  to  the  Thirty-fifth  Congress,  in  which  he  took  his  seat,  Decem- 
ber 7,  1857.  Receiving  a  renomination  from  his  constituents  he  was  elected 
in  1858  to  serve  a  second  term  at  Washington,  which  expired  in  1861  with 
tlie  close  of  President  Buchanan's  term  and  the  inauguration  of  Mr.  Lincoln. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  General  Sickles,  influenced  by  a  patriotism 
that  rose  superior  to  party  prejudice,  gave  a  hearty  support  to  the  new  admin- 
istration. In  a  personal  interview  with  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  which  he  tendered  his 
services  to  the  government,  the  president  accepted  cordially  this  friendly  offer 
from  a  political  opponent,  and  the  War  Department  granted  Sickles  special 
authority  to  raise  a  brigade  of  volunteers  for  the  United  States  service. 

General  Sickles  returned  to  New  York,  where  he  engaged  promptly  in  the 
arduous  work  of  recruiting  and  organizing  the  five  regiments  necessary  to  a 
proper  brigade  formation.  He  received  from  the  president  a  commission  as 
colonel,  and  on  the  state  records  he  appears  as  the  first  colonel  of  the  Seven- 
tieth New  York  Infantry,  the  same  regiment  which,  afterwards,  was  com- 
manded successively  by  Colonels  Dwight,  Farnum,  and  Holt.  A  camp  was 
established  on  Staten  Island  to  which  all  recruits  or  new  companies  were  sent. 
Through  hard  work  and  good  management  Sickles  soon  organized  five  regi- 
ments which,  under  the  name  of  the  Excelsior  Brigade,  achieved  an  honorable 
distinction  that  reflected  credit  on  the  soldier  who  organized,  drilled  and  first 
led  them  into  battlg. 

Three  regiments  of  the  brigade  left  New  York  for  the  front  in  July,  1861, 
tlie  others  following  soon  after.  The  brigade  was  assigned  to  Hooker's 
Division.  General  Sickles'  commission  as  brigadier  general  was  issued  Sep- 
tember 3,  1861,  but  through  poHtical  influence  the  Senate  delayed  his  con- 
firmation several  months.  He  commanded  the  Excelsior  Brigade  —  of 
Hooker's  Division,  Third  Corps  —  during  the  Peninsular  campaign,  where  it 
achieved  a  signal  success,  both  the  brigade  and  its  commander  receiving  fre- 
quent and  favorable  mention  in  the  official  reports  of  the  commander-in-chief, 
and  in  the  reports  of  the  corps  and  division  generals.  At  Williamsburg,  Fair 
Oaks,  Oak  Grove,  Peach  Orchard,  Glendale,  and  Malvern  Hill,  the  brigade 
displayed  the  same  courage  and  efficiency  that  characterized  it  on  so  many 
other  hard-fought  fields. 

In  recognition  of  the  ability  displayed  by  General  Sickles  in  the  campaigns 
of  1862  the  War  Department  commissioned  him  a  major  general  of  volunteers, 
with  rank  from  November  29,  1862,  and  General  Hooker  having  been  promoted, 
he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  that  splendid  division. 


1338  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

He  commanded  this  division  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  although  his 
commission  as  major  general  was  not  issued  until  March  7,  1863.  General 
Hooker  having  been  placed  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  General 
Sickles  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  the  Third  Army  Corps.  The  action 
of  the  War  Department  in  assigning  him  to  this  important  position  was  fully 
justified  by  the  signal  abihty  and  good  generalship  displayed  by  him  at  the 
battle  of  Chancellorsville,  in  which  the  brunt  of  the  fighting  fell  on  the  Third 
and  Twelfth  Corps,  commanded  respectively  by  Sickles  and  Slocum.  The 
gallant  services  rendered  on  that  field  by  these  troops  and  their  commanders 
furnished  a  redeeming  paragraph  in  that  shameful  chapter  of  disaster  and  defeat. 
While  the  first  day's  battle  at  Gettysburg  was  being  fought,  the  Third  Corps 
was  at  Emmitsburg,  Md.,  having  been  ordered  there  by  General  Meade;  but 
as  soon  as  Sickles  heard  of  the  fighting  at  the  front  he  obeyed  his  soldierly 
instincts,  and,  without  waiting  for  orders,  made  a  forced  march  of  thirteen 
miles,  arriving  on  the  field  that  evening  in  time  to  render  the  Union  position 
secure.  General  Meade,  subsequently,  gave  his  official  approval  to  this  move- 
ment. 

In  the  formation  of  the  Union  lines  at  Gettysburg  on  the  second  day,  the 
Third  Corps  was  placed  on  the  extreme  left.  During  the  day  it  became  ap- 
parent to  General  Sickles,  through  a  reconnoissance  in  force  which  he  had 
made,  that  the  enemy's  troops  were  massing  heavily  on  his  immediate  front, 
with  the  evident  intention  of  attacking  his  line.  Information  of  the  enemy's 
movements  repeatedly  conveyed  to  headquarters  by  officers  of  the  corps  staff 
and  by  Sickles  himself,  elicited  no  attention  or  response.  General  Meade,  im- 
pressed with  an  idea  that  the  enemy  would  attack  elsewhere,  had  made  no 
personal  examination  of  the  field  on  the  left  of  his  line.  General  Sickles,  select- 
ing a  strong  position,  met  the  attack,  and,  with  the  aid  of  reinforcements  sent 
him,  secured  a  victory  for  the  Union  arms.  Near  the  close  of  the  battle  he 
fell  from  his  horse  severely  wounded,  and  was  obliged  to  undergo  amputation 
of  a  leg  above  the  knee. 

General  Lee  in  this  attack,  on  the  second  day  at  Gettysburg,  hoped  to  sur- 
prise the  Union  army  as  he  had  done  at  Chancellorsville,  and  but  for  the  watch- 
fulness and  skillful  preparations  of  General  Sickles  he  would  have  succeeded. 

Recovering  from  his  wound  he  returned  to  the  front  in  May,  1864,  having 
been  assigned  to  duty  as  an  inspector  general  with  Sherman's  army,  then  ac- 
tively engaged  in  fighting  its  way  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta.  General 
Sickles  was  present  on  the  lines  at  Resaca,  the  opening  battle  of  that  great 
campaign,  and  at  several  subsequent  engagements. 

He  remained  in  active  service  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  sent 
by  Mr.  Seward,  then  Secretary  of  State,  on  a  confidential  mission  to  Colombia 
and  other  South  American  States,  his  services  being  needed  in  connection 
with  matters  growing  out  of  the  hostile  relations  between  the  Spanish  govern- 
ment and  the  South  American  republics. 

In  1866  he  entered  the  regular  army,  having  received  a  commission  as  colonel 
of  the  Forty-second  Infantry.  He  was  brevetted  brigadier  general  of  the  United 
States  Army  March  2,  1867,  for  bravery  at  Chancellorsville,  and  major  general 
for  "  gallant  and  meritorious  service  at  Gettysburg." 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  I339 

On  his  return  from  South  America  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
military  district  of  the  Carolinas,  where  he  was  engaged  for  two  years  in  carry- 
ing out  the  reconstruction  policy  of  the  general  government.  His  strict  and 
vigorous  adherence  to  his  instructions  developed  a  line  of  action  which,  at 
times,  seemed  at  variance  with  President  Johnson's  policy,  who  relieved  him 
from  further  duty  in  that  district.  Before  doing  so,  the  president,  who  enter- 
tained a  high  regard  for  General  Sickles,  tendered  him  the  mission  to  the 
Netherlands,  but  the  compliment  was  declined.  On  leaving  South  Carolina  he 
received  an  official  letter  from  Governor  Orr  of  that  State,  in  which  the  justice 
and  wisdom  of  General  Sickles'  administration  of  affairs  in  his  district  were 
fully  recognized. 

General  Sickles  was  mustered  out  of  the  volunteer  service  on  January  i, 
1868;  and,  on  April  14,  1869,  he  was  placed  on  the  retired  list  of  the  United 
States  Army,  with  the  full  rank  of  major  general. 

In  the  presidential  campaign  of  1868  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  promoting 
General  Grant's  election.  In  1869  he  was  appointed  Minister  to  Spain,  where 
he  remained  until  1873,  when  he  resumed  his  residence  in  New  York  City. 

Although  he  no  longer  sought  political  preferment,  positions  were  repeatedly 
tendered  him.  In  1888  he  accepted  from  Governor  David  B.  Hill  the  chair- 
manship of  the  Civil  Service  Commission  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
served  on  that  board  two  years.  In  1890,  the  sheriff  of  New  York  having  been 
removed  from  office,  General  Sickles  was  appointed  in  his  place. 

For  several  years  he  has  served  as  chairman  of  the. New  York  Monuments 
Commission  for  the  Battlefields  of  Gettysburg  and  Chattanooga,  an  honorary 
but  responsible  position,  the  board  having  been  intrusted  with  the  expenditure 
of  several  hundred  'thousand  dollars  during  the  course  of  its  work.  In  1892 
he  was  again  elected  to  Congress  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  while  there 
he  was  instrumental  in  framing  and  passing  the  act  establishing  a  National 
Military  Park  on  the  battlefield  of  Gettysburg. 

Though  holding  decided  opinions  in  political  affairs.  General  Sickles  has 
always  avoided  the  narrow  paths  of  partisanship,  and,  so,  in  the  presidential 
campaign  of  1896,  his  views  as  to  a  sound  financial  policy  constrained  him  to 
give  an  earnest  and,  as  it  proved,  an  efficient  support  to  the  candidacy  of 
President  McKinley. 

Few  men  in  public  hfe  have  had  so  long  and  distinguished  a  career,  or  been 
honored  with  so  many  important  trusts,  civic,  diplomatic,  and  military.  But 
among  the  soldiers  throughout  the  land  he  will  be  best  remembered  as  one 
who  has  always  been  the  friend  of  the  veteran,  ever  ready  in  public  or  private  life 
to  do  all  in  his  power  to  secure  a  generous  acknowledgment  of  their  services. 
By  the  men  who  fought  under  him  he  will  be  remembered  as  an  ideal  soldier, — 
courageous  in  battle,  able  in  generalship,  always  kind,  thoughtful,  and  con- 
siderate of  every  want  among  the  gallant  soldiers  whom  he  had  the  honor  to 
lead.  With  the  disbandmcnt  of  the  army,  the  veterans  who  wore  the  diamond 
badge  were  scattered  far  and  wide.  But  so  long  as  they  survive,  at  reunions 
and,  by  firesides,  the  story  will  be  told  how  Sickles  and  the  Third  Corps  fought 

•"  In  the  brave  days  of  old." 


I240  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

MAJ.  GEN.  DANIEL  BUTTERFIELD. 

General  Butterfield  was  born  October  31,  1831,  at  Utica,  N.  Y.  He  was  a 
son  of  John  Butterfield,  an  energetic,  enterprising  man,  who  was  prominent  in 
the  early  organization  of  the  American  Express  Company,  was  president  ot 
the  Overland  Mail  to  San  Francisco,  and  built  the  first  telegraph  line  from 
New  York  to  Buffalo. 
.  Daniel  Butterfield,  his  son,  was  educated  at  Union  College  in  the  class  ot 
1849.  Graduating  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  the  business  of  the  Ameri- 
can Express  Company,  in  which  he  received  an  appointment  as  general  eastern 
superintendent.  His  taste  for  military  affairs  led  him  to  join  the  state  militia 
when  he  was  twenty  years  old,  enlisting  in  the  Seventy-first  Regiment,  a  New 
York  City  organization.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Twelfth  Regiment,  in  which 
he  rose  by  successive  promotions  to  the  rank  of  colonel  in  i860.  At  the  firing 
of  the  first  gun  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  the  regiment  enlisted,  and  with 
Butterfield  at  its  head  was  among  the  first  to  march  to  the  defence  of  the 
National  Capital.  It  also  led  the  column  that  crossed  the  historic  "  Long 
Bridge  "  into  Virginia  at  the  first  occupation  of  the  enemy's  territory  by  Union 
troops.  In  recognition  of  his  services  and  military  abihty  he  was  commis- 
sioned in  the  regular  army  as  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Twelfth  Infantry,  and, 
on  September  7,  1861,  as  brigadier  general  of  volunteers. 

During  the  Peninsular  campaign  he  commanded  a  brigade  in  Morell's 
Division,  of  Fitz  John  Porter's  (Fifth)  Corps,  taking  a  conspicuous  part  in 
the  battles  of  Hanover  Court  House,  Mechanicsville,  Gaines's  Mill,  and  Mal- 
vern Hill.  His  fine  personal  appearance,  combined  with  a  well-attested  reputa- 
tion for  personal  courage  on  the  field,  made  him  very  popular  with  the  troops 
in  his  brigade.  In  the  battles  around  Manassas  that  year  he  was,  for  a  part 
of  the  time,  in  command  of  the  division. 

He  was  promoted  major  general  of  volunteers,  November  29,  1862,  and 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  with  which  he  was  present  at  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg,  where  he  participated  in  the  unsuccessful  assault  on 
Marye's  Heights.  To  this  column  was  also  assigned  the  important  duty  of 
covering  the  withdrawal  of  the  army  in  the  retreat  across  the  Rappahannock. 

When  General  Hooker  was  made  commander-in-chief  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  Butterfield  was  designated  as  chief  of  staff,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  at  Chancellorsville.  At  this  battle  the  corps  badges  on  the  men's  caps 
were  worn  for  the  first  time,  an  admirable  arrangement  that  originated  with 
the  chief  of  staff.  General  Meade,  who  succeeded  Hooker,  retained  Butter- 
field. The  latter  was  present  at  Gettysburg,  and  in  the  .  discharge  of  the 
important  duties  incidental  to  his  position  became  prominently  identified  with 
the  history  of  that  great  battle,  in  the  course  of  which  he  was  wounded. 

In  July,  1863,  he  received  from  the  War  Department  his  commission  as 
colonel  of  the  Fifth  United  States  Infantry.  Upon  the  transfer  of  the  Eleventh 
and  Twelfth  Corps  to  the  Array  of  the  Cumberland  under  General  Hooker, 
he  joined  that  command  as  chief  of  staff,  and  was  present  with  these  troops 
at  the  battles  of  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge. 


Bm.6mAD0imVm  Sjf.ihwlhr.  \ 


MlG.GEM.hR.PAJRlf.K 


NEW  YORK  GENERALS  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

The  rank  piven  in  each  title  is  that  lield  at  Gettysburg.    Where  the  uniform  indicates  a  liigher  rank 
it  is  because  of  subsequent  promotion. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  ^341 

On  the  organization  of  the  new  Twentieth  Corps,  in  April,  1864,  he  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Third  Division,  with  which  he  was  actively 
engaged  at  Resaca,  New  Hope  Church,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Kolb's  Farm,  and 
some  battles  of  lesser  note. 

For  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  he  was  brevetted  brigadier  general  and 
major  general  of  the  regular  army,  and  was  awarded  the  Medal  of  Honor 
for  especial  heroism  at  the  battle  of  Gaines's  Mill,  in  which  he  wzs  wounded. 

The  war  having  closed  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  recruiting  service  of 
the  United  States  Army,  with  headquarters  at  New  York  City,  where  he  was 
in  command  of  the  troops  at  Bedloe's,  Governor's,  and  David's  Islands  in 
New  York  Harbor  for  four  years.  He  then  accepted  the  position  of  United 
States  sub-treasurer  at  New  York,  after  which  he  spent  several  years  abroad 
engaged  in  foreign  travel. 

His  experience  during  the  war  in  marshalling  large  bodies  of  troops  made 
a  demand  for  his  services  in  time  of  peace  on  the  occasion  of  great  parades. 
As  grand  marshal  at  the  celebration  of  the  Washington  centennary,  May  i, 
1889,  he  organized  over  100,000  civilians  into  various  commands,  the  numerous 
divisions  moving  promptly  at  the  appointed  hour,  and  passing  over  the  line 
of  march  in  perfect  order  and  without  a  break  in  the  long  column. 

He  received  from  his  Alma  Mater  the  degrees  of  A.  B.,  A.  M.,  and  LL.  D., 
and  further  identified  himself  with  the  interests  of  the  college  by  founding  a 
course  of  lectures  to  be  delivered  before  the  students,  known  as  the  Butter- 
field  Course.  He  is  the  author  of  the  military  text-book,  "  Camp  and  Outpost 
Duty,"  published  in  1862.  In  1891,  General  Butterfield  was  elected  president 
of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  a  large  and  influential  organization 
composed  of  veterans  who  fought  in  that  famous  army,  tie  is  a  member  of 
the  New  York  Monuments  Commission  for  the  Battlefields  of  Gettysburg  and 
Chattanooga. 


MAJ.  GEN.  ABNER  DOUBLEDAY. 

The  historian  who  writes  the  story  of  the  first  day's  battle  at  Gettysburg 
will  dwell  with  pleasure  on  the  brilliant  services  of  the  general  who,  after 
Reynolds  fell,  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  First  Corps,  and  through 
whose  able  generalship  the  gallant  regiments  of  that  corps  withstood  for  hours 
the  onset  of  superior  forces,  inflicting  greater  losses  than  they  received  and 
well  nigh  achieving  victory. 

Abner  Doubleday,  to  whom  this  honor  belongs,  was  bom  in  the  village  of 
Ballston  Spa,  N.  Y.,  June  26,  1819.  He  was  educated  at  West  Point,  and 
on  his  graduation,  in  1842,  was  commissioned  a  second  lieutenant  in  the  Third 
Artillery.  He  served  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  during  which  he  fought  at 
Monterey  and  Buena  Vista.  He  was  promoted  first  lieutenant  and  captain, 
after  which  he  took  part  in  the  fighting  with  the  Seminole  Indians  in  1856-58. 

Having  been  assigned  to  duty  at  Fort  Moultrie,  in  Charleston  Harbor,  he 
was  present  when  the  garrison  under  Maj.  Robert  Anderson  withdrew  to  Fort 
Sumter,  on  December  26,  i860,  where  he  participated  in  its  memorable  defence, 


1342  New  York  at  GEmrsBURa 

firing  the  first  gun  in  reply  to  the  enemy's  attack,  on  April  12,  1861,  the 
opening  of  the  Great  Rebellion. 

He  was  promoted  major  of  the  Seventeenth  United  States  Infantry  on  May 
14,  1861,  and  during  the  midsummer  campaign  of  that  year  served  under 
General  Patterson  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  after  which  he  was  ordered  to 
tEe  defences  of  Washington.  He  was  commissioned,  February  3,  1862,  a 
brigadier  general  of  volunteers,  and  on  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign 
his  brigade  moved  with  McDowell's  army  in  its  advance  to  the  Rappahannock. 
He  was  actively  engaged  in  the  battles  around  Manassas,  during  which,  on 
August  30th,  he  succeeded  General  Hatch  in  the  command  of  the  division, 
Hatch  being  temporarily  disabled  by  a  wound.  At  South  Mountain  General 
Hatch  was  again  wounded,  and  Doubleday  again  took  command.  Three 
days  later,  at  Antietam,  his  division  was  hotly  engaged  on  the  Sharpsburg  Pike, 
where  he  held  the  extreme  right  of  McClellan's  line,  encountering  a  destructive 
musketry  fire  that  cut  down  over  800  of  his  men.  In  this  battle  Doubleday's 
Brigade  not  only  held  their  ground,  but  drove  the  enemy  from  his  first  position, 
capturing  several  stands  of  colors. 

On  November  29,  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  major  general  of  volunteers. 
His  division  took  an  active  part  at  Fredericksburg  in  the  hard  fighting  on  the 
left,  and  was  present  at  Chancellorsville,  where  it  was  held  in  reserve. 

At  Gettysburg,  General  Doubleday  distinguished  himself  by  the  signal  ability 
which  he  displayed  in  the  conduct  of  the  first  day's  battle,  succeeding  to  the 
command  of  the  field  on  the  death  of  General  Reynolds,  which  occurred  at 
the  opening  of  the  fight.  He  directed  all  the  movements  in  that  engag'ement 
until  the  arrival  of  General  Howard,  who  outranked  him.  During  the  first 
epoch  of  that  eventful  day  a  desperate  conflict  was  successfully  waged  by  the 
First  Corps  alone,  which,  under  Doubleday's  command,  repulsed  a  superior 
force,  capturing  at  the  same  time  in  different  parts  of  the  field  portions  of  three 
Confederate  brigades.  Although  superseded  on  the  field  in  the  command 
of  his  corps,  which  was  given  to  General  Newton,  he  participated  cheerfully 
and  without  complaint  in  the  fighting  of  the  two  succeeding  days,  and  with 
his  old  division  took  a  prominent  and  effective  part  in  the  final  repulse  of 
Pickett's  Division  on  the  third  day. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  war  he  was  assigned  to  duty  on  courts  martial 
and  various  military  commissions.  On  July  12,  1864,  when  the  city  of  Wash- 
ington was  in  imminent  danger  from  Early's  invasion,  he  was  placed  t6mpo- 
rarily  in  command  of  the  southeastern  defences  of  the  city.  For  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  during  the  war  he  was  brevetted  colonel  of  the  United 
States  Army;  and  on  March  13,  1865,  was  brevetted  brigadier  and  major 
general. 

ide  was  in  command  of  the  United  States  forces  at  Galveston,  Texas,  in 
the  fall  of  1866,  where  he  remained  on  duty  in  connection  with  the  Freed- 
man's  Bureau  until  August,  1867.  Having  been  mustered  out  of  the  volunteer 
service  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Infantry,  September 
15,  1867.  In  1865,  he  was  stationed  at  New  York  City,  where  he  served  on 
the  Retiring  Board  of  the  United  States  Army;  and  from  1869  to  1871,  at  San 
Francisco,  in  charge  of  the  recruiting  service  in  that  district.    While  in  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  ^343 

latter  city  he  originated  and  obtained  a  charter  for  the  first  street  railway 
operated  by  the  cable  system  in  the  United  States.  He  was  subsequently  as- 
signed to  duty  in  Texas,  where  he  held  important  commands  until  December 
II,  1873,  when  he  was  placed  on  the  retired  list  at  his  own  request. 

General  Doubleday  contributed  several  valuable  publications  to  the  history 
of  the  war,  among  them,  "  Reminiscences  of  Fort  Moultrie  and  Sumter,"  and 
"  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg."  In  addition  to  articles  on  military  affairs 
and  army  history  in  various  magazines,  he  wrote  also  on  scientific  and  economic 
subjects.  He  was  an  able  writer,  and  his  official  reports  during  the  war 
were  models  of  composition,  his  report  for  Gettysburg  furnishing  a  most 
valuable  contribution  to  the  history  of  that  battle.     He  died  January  26,  1893. 


MAJ.  GEN.  GOUVERNEUR  K.  WARREN. 

For  biography  of  General  Warren,  see  exercises  at  dedication  of  Warren 
monument. 


BRIG,  GEN.  JAMES  S.  WADSWORTH. 

James  Samuel  Wadsworth  was  a  son  of  James  Wadsworth,  the  philan- 
thropist, and  a  nephew  of  Gen.  William  Wadsworth,  who  commanded  a  brigade 
of  New  York  troops  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  bom  in  Geneseo,  N.  Y.  October 
30,  1807.  He  was  educated  at  Harvard,  after  which  he  studied  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1833.  Having  inherited  a  large  estate  he  devoted  his 
time  to  its  management,  and  abandoned  the  practice  of  his  profession.  The 
property  which  he  inherited  was  situated  near  Geneseo,  and  embraced  about 
15,000  acres  of  valuable  farming  land.  He  took  an  interest  in  agriculture  and 
literature,  was  president  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society,  founded  a  public 
library  in  his  native  village,  contributed  liberally  to  educational  institutions,  and 
like  his  father  was  widely  known  as  a  philanthropist.  Originally  a  Democrat, 
his  political  views  underwent  a  change,  and  in  1848  he  joined  the  anti-slavery 
movement.  He  was  a  presidential  elector  on  the  Republican  ticket  in  1856, 
in  Fremont's  campaign,  and,  also,  in  i860,  when  Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected. 

He  attended  the  Peace  Convention  at  Washington,  1861,  as  a  delegate,  but 
when  war  was  declared  he  promptly  tendered  his  aid  and  services  to  the  general 
government  for  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion.  Governor  Morgan  im- 
mediately commissioned  him  a  major  general  in  the  State  service.  This  com- 
mission, however,  was  withdrawn  without  prejudice  to  the  recipient. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  when  communication  with  Washington  by  rail 
was  for  a  time  suspended,  causing  a  lack  of  supplies  for  the  troops  at  the 
national  capital.  General  Wadsworth,  whose  patriotism  was  aroused,  chartered 
two  vessels  which  he  loaded  with  provisions  and  supplies  at  his  own  expense, 
and  accompanied  them  to  Annapolis,  where  he  attended  personally  to  the  de- 
livery of  his  cargoes. 


1244  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Hastening  to  the  front  he  served  as  a  volunteer  aide,  with  the  rank  of  major, 
on  the  staff  of  General  McDowell,  with  whom  he  was  actively  engaged  at  the 
battle  of  First  Bull  Run,  and  in  which  his  horse  was  killed  under  him.  He 
was  commissioned  by  the  President  a  brigadier  general  of  volunteers  on  Au- 
gust 9,  1 86 1,  and  was  assigned  by  General  McClellan  to  the  command  of  a 
brigade  composed  entirely  of  New  York  regiments.  On  March  i6,  1862, 
General  Wadsworth  was  appointed  military  governor  of  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia, his  command  including,  also,  the  city  of  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  the  defences 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Potomac  in  front  of  Washington.  By  McClellan's 
written  instructions  he  was  also  intrusted  with  the  important  duty  of  caring 
for  the  new  regiments  as  they  arrived,  forming  them  into  provisional  brigades, 
promoting  their  drill,  discipline  and  instruction,  and  facilitating  their  equip- 
ment.* 

In  the  fall  of  1862,  he  received  the  Republican  nomination  for  governor  of 
New  York,  but  was  defeated  by  Horatio  Seymour, 

After  serving  at  Washington  for  eight  months  he  took  the  field,  where  he 
was  assigned,  December  22,  1862,  to  the  command  of  the  First  Division  of  the 
First  Army  Corps. 

General  Wadsworth  distinguished  himself  by  his  courageous ,  action  at  the 
minor  engagement  known  as  Pollock's  Mill,  or  Fitzhugh's  Crossing,  an  affair 
which  occurred  on  the  Rappahannock  below  Fredericksburg  at  the  time  of 
the  second  battle  at  that  place,  and  the  battle  at  Chancellorsville,  May  1-3,  1863. 
In  the  affair  referred  to  Wadsworth  was  ordered  to  send  one  of  his  brigades 
across  the  river  in  boats  and  drive  the  enemy  out  of  the  rifle  pits  on  the  op- 
posite bank,  so  that  the  engineers  could  pontoon  the  stream.  This  dangerous 
movement  was  successfully  made  under  the  fire  of  the  Confederate  sharp- 
shooters, General  Wadsworth  standing  in  the  bow  of  one  of  the  leading  boats 
and  holding  the  reins  of  his  horse,  which  swam  at  the  side. 

The  First  Corps  moved  the  next  day  to  Chancellorsville,  where  it  was  present 
during  the  battle  of  Sunday,  May  3d,  but  Wadsworth's  Division  was  not  en- 
gaged. 

His  fine  division  had  the  honor  of  opening  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  one 
of  his  regiments  firing  the  first  infantry  volley  on  that  historic  field.  Though 
forced  after  long  hours  of  gallant  fighting  and  brilliant  manoeuvres  to  yield 
its  ground  to  the  forces  which  greatly  outnumbered  it,  Wadsworth's  troops 
made  a  noble  record  that  will  remain  inseparably  connected  with  the  history 
of  that  battle.  Though  he  had  only  two  brigades  in  his  command,  each  of 
them  captured  a  brigade,  or  a  large  portion  of  one,  the  capture  including  a 
Confederate  brigadier  and  a  stand  of  colors.  His  losses  were  severe,  some  of 
his  regiments  losing  over  60  per  cent,  of  their  number  in  killed  and  wounded. 
During  the  fighting  on  the  second  and  third  days  some  of  his  troops  furnished 
timely  aid  to  the  Twelfth  Corps  in  its  famous  defence  of  Gulp's  Hill. 

On  the  consolidation  of  the  First  and  Fifth  Corps  in  April,  1864,  Wads- 
worth was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Fourth  Division,  Fifth  Corps,  which, 
with  other  troops,  contained  all  the  regiments  of  his  old  division.  He  led  this 
division  in  the  opening  battle  of  Grant's  campaign  in  the  Wilderness.     On  the 

*  Official  Records,  vol.  V,  p.  57. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  i345 

second  day  of  that  battle,  May  6,  1864,  General  Wadsworth,  while  rallying  his 
men  under  a  severe  fire,  was  struck  in  the  head  by  a  rifle  ball  and  fell  from  his 
horse.  The  Confederates,  who  were  advancing  in  a  desperate  charge,  occupied 
the  ground  before  he  could  be  removed.  Hp  wound  was  mortal,  and  after 
lingering  in  an  unconscious  state  for  two  days  he  died  in  the  enemy's  hands. 
He  was  brevetted  major  general  of  volunteers  with  rank  dating  from  the  day 
on  which  he  fell. 


BRIG.  GEN.  ADOLPH  VON  STEINWEHK. 

General  von  Steinwehr  entered  the  Union  army  at  the  beginning  of  the 
war  as  colonel  of  the  Twenty-ninth  New  York  Volunteers,  a  regiment  which 
was  recruited  and  organized  largely  through  his  efforts.  His  commission  as 
colonel  bore  rank  from  May  23,  1861,  and,  soon  after,  he  left  the  State  with 
his  regiment,  en  route  for  the  front.  He  had  barely  time  to  drill  and  instruct 
his  men  before  they  were  ordered  to  the  battlefield  of  First  Bull  Run.  In 
this  engagement  Steinwehr's  regiment  was  in  the  reserve  division;  but,  in 
covering  the  retreat  of  the  army,  it  was  under  fire  and  sustained  some  losses 
in  killed  and  wounded. 

Von  Steinwehr  was  commissioned  a  brigadier  general  of  volunteers,  October 
12,  1861,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Second  Brigade  of  Blenker's 
Division,  a  body  of  troops  composed  almost  wholly  of  men  of  German  birth 
or  parentage.  On  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign  in  1862,  Blenker's  forces 
were  ordered  to  the  ^enandoah  Valley,  where  they  joined  Fremont's  army, 
with  which  General  Steinwehr  and  his  brigade  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Cross 
Keys.  On  the  organization  of  the  Army  of  Virginia,  under  General  Pope, 
Steinwehr  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Second  Division  of  Sigel's  Corps, 
with  which  he  was  prominently  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Second  Bull  Run  and 
the  preliminary  actions. 

When  Sigel's  troops  were  reorganized,  under  the  designation  of  the  Eleventh 
Corps,  Steinwehr  still  retained  command  of  the  Second  Division.  He  led  these 
"troops  at  Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  displaying  on  every  occasion, 
whether  in,  disaster  or  victory,  a  high  order  of  military  ability  and  generalship. 
In  September,  1863,  the  greater  part  of  the  Eleventh  Corps,  including  Stein- 
wehr's Division,  was  ordered  to  Tennessee  as  a  reinforcement  to  General  Rose- 
■crans'  ^^ny.  While  there  General  Steinwehr  took  an  active  part  in  the  battles 
•of  Wauhatchie  and  Missionary  Ridge.  In  the  midnight  battle  of  Wauhatchie, 
the  successful  charge  of  one  of  Steinwehr's  brigades  up  a  steep  hill  against 
an  intrenched  position  of  the  enemy  was  described  by  General  Thomas,  in  a 
congratulatory  order,  as  one  of  the  most  illustrious  fea.ts  of  arms  in  the  history 
of  the  war. 

By  the  consolidation  of  the  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps,  in  April,  1864,  Gen- 
eral von  Steinwehr  was  left  without  a  command.  He  remained  in  service  until 
July  3,  1865,  when,  the  war  having  ended,  he  resigned  his  commission. 

Baron  Adolph  von  Steinwehr  was  bom  in  Blankenburg,  in  the  Duchy  of 
•Brunswick,  Germany,  on  the  2Sth  of  September,  1822.     His  father  was  a  major 

85 


1346  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

in  the  ducal  service,  and  his  grandfather  a  lieutenant  general  in  the  Prussian 
army.  He  was  educated  at  the  military  academy  in  the  city  of  Brunswick, 
after  which  he  entered  the  army  in  1841,  having  been  appointed  to  a  lieu- 
tenancy. In  1847,  having  obtained  a  leave  of  absence  for  one  year,  he  came 
to  the  United  States,  where  he  tendered  his  services  to  the  government  at  the 
time  of  the  Mexican  War. 

Finding  it  difficult  to  obtain  a  commission  in  the  regular  army  he  accepted 
an  appointment  in  the  engineer  corps,  serving  under  the  United  States  com- 
missioners appointed  to  define  the  new  boundary  line  of  the  Mexican  frontier. 
While  in  Mobile,  Ala.,  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  an  American  lady,  whom 
he  married,  and  who  accompanied  him  on  his  return  to  Germany.  Resigning 
his  commission  in  the  army  of  Brunswick,  in  1854  he  came  to  America  again. 

By  profession  a  military  engineer,  he  was  also  proficient  as  a  military  archi- 
tect. The  State  Arsenal  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  was  built  under  his  supervision  and 
according  to  his  plans  and  designs. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  he  was  appointed  a  military  professor 
at  Yale  College,  a  position  which  he  filled  with  distinction. 

^hile  residing  at  New  Haven,  and  connected  with  Yale  College,  he  con- 
tinued his  studies  and  investigations  in  physical  science  and  natural  history, 
and  labored  by  lectures  and  writings  to  direct  public  attention  more  decidedly 
to  these  subjects.  He  also,  about  this  time,  projected  the  plan  of  a  series  of 
works  on  geography,  to  which  science  and  cognate  branches  he  had  given 
much  study  and  research.  As  a  recognition  of  his  literary  and  scientific  quali- 
fications, the  degree  of  master  of  arts  was  conferred  on  him  by  Yale  College. 
In  the  prosecution  of  his  literary  work,  he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he 
edited  "  The  Centennial  Gazetteer  of  the  United  States,"  and  superintended 
the  publication  of  maps  and  other  educational  works.  He  was  also  for  three 
years  connected  with  the  United  States  Engineer  Department,  engaged  in 
making  surveys  in  the  New  England  States  and  drafting;  and  it  was  during 
this  period  that  he  imparted  to  that  branch  of  the  public  service  the  better  taste 
for  beauty,  completeness,  and  accurate  finish  in  the  cartography  of  its  surveys 
which  has  ever  since  distinguished  the  works  of  this  character  published  by 
the  government.  Nor  was  he  content  to  labor  for  the  government  only  dur- 
ing these  years,  but  he  also  employed  all  of  his  spare  time  in  the  preparation 
of  those  school  books  now  known  as  the  "  Eclectic  Geographies,"  constructing 
on  new  and  original  principles  of  projections,  mountain  topography  and  more 
accurate  and  clearly  defined  representation  of  the  physical  features  and  political 
boundaries  of  the  country. 

During  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  he  resided  in  Cincinnati,  where  he  pre- 
pared a  revised  edition  of  his  works;  and  it  was  while  at  Buffalo  supervising 
the  engraving  of  maps  for  them  that  he  suddenly  died  in  his  hotel.  His  re- 
mains were  inclosed  in  a  casket  and  brought  to  Albany  by  officers  and  friends, 
several  of  whom  served  under  him  during  the  war,  and  there  his  body  was 
entombed  with  mihtary  honors. 

Steinwehr  Post,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  assisted  by  the  many  friends 
and  admirers  of  the  general,  erected  a  handsome  monument  at  his  grave  in 
the  Albany  Rural  Cemetery,  which  was  dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies 
in  the  presence  of  a  vast  concourse  of  the  military,  veteran  soldiers,  and  citizens. 


New  York  at.  Gettysburg.  ^347 


BRIG.  GEN.  MARSENA  R.  PATRICK. 

The  historian  who  searches  the  records  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  will  find 
that  the  various  rosters  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  from  October,  1862,  until 
fhe  close  of  the  war,  are  headed  in  each  case  by  General  Patrick's  name  as 
provost  marshal  general.  Through  all  the  changes  of  commanders-in-chief 
he  held  this  responsible  position  undisturbed,  his  marked  ability  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  its  peculiar  duties  rendering  his  continuance  highly  desirable,, 
if  not  a  necessity.  It  was  in  command  of  the  provost  brigade  that  he  was- 
present  on  the  memorable  field  of  Gettysburg. 

General  Patrick  graduated  from  West  Point  in  1835,  and  attained  his; 
captaincy  in  1874.  After  serving  with  distinction  in  the  Mexican  War  he  was 
brevetted  major  for  meritorious  conduct  in  that  campaign.  The  war  having 
ended  he  resigned  in  1850,  and,  returning  to  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  was  born,  he  engaged  in  farming.  In  1859,  he  was  appointed  president  of 
the  State  Agricultural  College. 

On  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  was  appointed  inspector  general  of 
the  New  York  militia.  In  March,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  by  the  War 
Department  a  brigadier  general  of  volunteers,  and  placed  in  command  of  a 
brigade  composed  of  New  York  regiments,  in  King's  Division,  McDowell's 
Corps.  This  brigade,  under  his  command,  fought  bravely  and  well  at  the 
battles  of  Manassas,  South  Mountain,  and  Antietam. 

General  Patrick  was  appointed  provost  marshal  general  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  October  6,  1862,  a  position  which  he  filled  acceptably  until  the  end 
of  the  war.  In  the  discharge  of  his  duties  he  was  present  with  the  army  in 
all  its  campaigns,  on  the  march  and  in  the  field,  until  the  surrender  at  Ap- 
pomattox. 

He  resigned  June  12,  1865,  soon  after  the  cessation  of  hostiUties,  and  re- 
sumed the  quiet  pursuits  which  he  had  left  in  the  hour  of  national  peril.  He 
was  again  installed  as  president  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society.  In  1880 
he  accepted  the  appointment  as  governor  of  the  National  Home  for  Disabled 
Soldiers,  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  a  position  which  he  held  until  his  death. 

He  was  born  March  15,  181 1,  in.  Hounsfield,  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.;  he 
died  July  27,  i888,  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 


BRIG.  GEN.  JOHN  C.  ROBINSON. 

The  student  of  history  who  reads  the  story  of  the  first  day's  battle  at  Gettys- 
burg will  note  with  interest  that,  of  the  six  infantry  divisions  which  fought 
that  day,  five  were  commanded  by  New  York  generals, —  Robinson,  Double- 
day,  Wadsworth,  Barlow,  and  Steinwehr. 

John  Qeveland  Robinson  was  bom  in  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  April  10,  181 7. 
At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  the  military  academy  at  West  Point,  where 
he  remained  three  years,  and  then  left  with  the  intention  of  studying  law. 


1348  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

After  a  year  of  civil  life  he  joined  the  regular  army,  in  which  he  received  a 
commission  as  second  lieutenant  in  the  Fifth  Infantry.  He  was  promoted  to 
a  first  lieutenancy  in  1846,  the  rank  which  he  held  during  the  Mexican  War, 
in  which  he  fought  with  distinction  at  Monterey,  and  was  present,  also,  at 
Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la  Palma.  He  was  commissioned  captain  in  1850. 
He  served  in  1856,  in  the  Florida  War  against  the  Seminole  Indians,  a  cam- 
paign in  which  he  made  a  further  record  for  bravery  and  efficient  services. 
At  the  close  of  the  Seminole  War  he  was  ordered  to  Utah,  where  he  was 
.assigned  to  the  command  of  Fort  Bridger. 

Returning  East  he  was  placed  in  command  of  Fort  McHenry,  at  Baltimore, 
-where  he  was  stationed  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War.  The  Confederate 
•conspirators  contemplated  a  seizure  of  this  important  point,  the  capture  of 
■which  would  have  inflicted  a  serious  blow  on  the  Union  cause  at  that  critical 
■period.  As  the  fort  was  garrisoned  by  only  sixty  men,  Robinson  felt  appre- 
hensive as  to  the  result,  but  succeeded,  through  a  clever  ruse,  in  making  the 
Confederates  believe  that  reinforcements  had  arrived,  and  so  their  plans  were 
abandoned. 

With  the  progress  of  the  war,  promotion  was  rapid  in  the  regular  army. 
Robinson,  who  had  been  ordered  on  duty  at  Detroit  as  a  mustering  officer, 
was  made  colonel  of  the  First  Michigan  Volunteers,  in  September,  1861 ;  and, 
soon  after,  he  received  a  commission  as  major  of  the  Second  United  States 
Infantry.  On  April  28,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  a  brigadier  general  of 
-volunteers,  having  already  been  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade  at  Newport 
News,  Va.  He  was  transferred  soon  after  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  where 
he  was  assigned  to  a  brigade  in  Kearny's  Division  of  the  Third  Corps,  with 
which  he  participated  in  most  of  the  battles  before  Richmond.  General  Kearny 
in  his  official  report  of  the  Seven  Days'  battle  says : 

"  I  have  reserved  General  Robinson  for  the  last.  To  him  this  day  is  due, 
above  all  others  in  this  division,  the  honors  of  this  battle.  The  attack  was  on- 
his  wing.  Everywhere  present,  by  personal  supervision  and  noble  example 
he  secured  for  us  the  honor  of  victory." 

On  the  withdrawal  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  from  in  front  of  Richmond 
R.obinson's  Brigade  moved  with  the  rest  of  McClellan's  army  to  reinforce  Gen- 
eral Pope,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  the.battles  around  Manassas.  With  his 
brigade,  he  next  fought  at  Fredericksburg,  after  which,  on  December  29,  1862, 
he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Second  Division  of  the  First  Army 
Corps.  He  was  present  at  Chancellorsville  with  his  division,  but  was  not  in 
action,  the  First  Corps  receiving  no  orders  from  General  Hooker  to  advance. 

At  Gettysburg  his  division  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  hard  fighting  of 
the  First  Corps  during  the  battle  on  the  first  day,  his  troops  holding  the  right 
of  the  corps  fine.  Robinson  manoeuvered  his  troops  rapidly  and  skilfully, 
holding  a  superior  force  in  check  for  hours,  and  capturing,  in  an  open  field  fight, 
a  large  part  of  Iverson's  North  Carolina  Brigade.  He  was  brevetted  lieutenant 
■colonel  of  the  regular  army  for  meritorious  service  at  Gettysburg,  and  colonel, 
-for  services  at  Mine  Run  and  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness. 

On  the  reorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  1864,  the  First  Corps 
was  transferred  to  the  Fifth,  and,  with  it,  Robinson's  Division,     After  the 


Brio.  Om  Johm  H.H.  Ward 


NEW  YORK  GENERALS  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

The  rank  given  in  each  title  is  that  held  at  Gettysburg.    Where  the  uniform  indicates  a  higher  rank 
it  is  because  of  subsequent  promotion. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1349 

battle  of  the  Wilderness,  General  Grant  ordered  the  army  to  Spotsylvania, 
with  the  intention  of  seizing  that  point  before  General  Lee  could  occupy  it. 
Robinson's  Division  moved  first,  and  arriving  there  found  the  advance  of  the 
Confederate  army  already  on  the  ground.  Realizing  the  importance  of  se- 
curing that  strategical  point,  Robinson,  without  waiting  for  supports,  attacked 
promptly  and  vigoror  jly.  In  this  engagement,  known  as  the  battle  of  Alsop's 
Farm,  May  8,  1864,  Robinson,  while  leading  his  men  in  the  fight,  was  shot 
through  the  left  knee,  and  was  borne  from  the  field.  The  wound  necessitated 
amputation  of  his  leg,  and  the  gallant  general,  thus  permanently  disabled,  re- 
tired from  active  service  in  the  field.  For  his  conspicuous  bravery  in  this 
action,  where  he  rode  at  the  head  of  his  troops  in  their  assault  on  an  in- 
trenched position,  he  received  from  the  War  Department  the  decoration  of  the 
Medal  of  Honor,  and  was  brevetted  major  general  of  volunteers;  and,  in  March, 
1865,  he  was  brevetted  brigadier  and  major  general  in  the  United  States  Army. 

As  soon  as  his  wound  would  permit  he  returned  to  duty,  having  been  placed 
in  command  of  the  Military  Department  of  the  State  of  New  York.  After  the 
war,  in  1866,  he  served  as  military  commander  and  commissioner  of  the  Freed- 
man's  Bureau  in  North  Carolina.  In  1867,  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  Military 
Department  of  the  South,  and,  in  1868,  of  the  Department  of  the  Lakes.  On 
May  6,  1869,  General  Robinson  was  placed  on  the  retired  list  of  the  United 
States  Army  with  the  full  rank  of  major  general,  and  his  long  military  career 
with  its  honorable  and  brilliant  record  was  brought  to  a  close. 

But  further  honors  were  awaiting  him  as  a  civilian,  and  in  1872,  he  was 
elected  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York  on  the  same  ticket  with 
Governor  John  A.  Dix. 

He  was  chosen  commander-in-chief  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  in 
1877,  and  in  1887,  was  elected  president  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  For  several  years  before  his  death  he  was  bUnd,  and  members  of 
the  Loyal  Legion  will  long  remember  the  pathetic  scene  at  one  of  their  ban- 
quets at  Delmonico's,  when  the  white-haired  veteran,  standing  with  sightless 
eyes  in  that  brilliant  scene,  bid  his  old  companions-in-arms  a  final  farewell.. 
With  hearts  softened  by  emotion  the  600  officers  ^present  at  the  banquet  arose 
and  gave  three  cheers  for  their  departing  comrade.  He  died  a  few  montlis- 
later,  on  February  18,  1897,  at  his  home  in  Binghamton,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine  years. 


BRIG.  GEN.  GEORGE  S.  GREENE. 

General  Greene  is  to-day  the  oldest  living  graduate  of  the  United  States- 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point.*  He  was  graduated  there  in  1823,  the  second 
in  his  class. 

He  was  born,  May  6,  1801,  at  Warwick,  R.  I.,  of  an  old  Puritan  family,  that 
first  settled  there  in  1635,  and  whose  sturdy  qualities  of  brain  and  body  were 
evidently  transmitted  to  him. 

In  1836,  he  left  the  army,  having  served  for  thirteen  years  on  garrison  duty 
At  various  points,  and,  part  of  the  time,  as  an  instructor  at  West  Point.     For 


*  Oen.  Greene  died  Jan.  28, 1899. 


1350  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

twenty-five  years  he  followed  the  business  of  a  civil  engineer,  during  which  he 
built  various  railroads,  and,  in  1856,  was  connected  with  the  Department  of 
Water  Supply  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The  large  reservoir  in  Central  Park 
was  designed  and  constructed  by  him,  and  the  enlargement  of  High  Bridge 
was  done  under  his  supervision. 

He  re-entered  the  army  during  the  Civil  War,  although  he  was  then  sixty- 
one  years  old  and  long  past  the  age  at  which  men  are  liable  to  military  duty. 

On  January  18,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  Sixtieth  New  York 
Volunteers,  a  St.  Lawrence  County  regiment.  On  the  28th  of  April  follow- 
ing, he  was  made  a  brigadier  general,  and  assigned  to  a  brigade  in  Banks's 
Corps,  then  operating  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 

General  Greene  commanded  this  brigade  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain, 
where  he  succeeded  to  the  command  '>f  the  division  when  General  Augur  was 
wounded,  retaining  it  also  during  Pope's  campaign  at  Manassas.  General 
Augur  being  still  absent,  Greene  continued  in  command  of  the  division  -r- 
Second  Division,  Twelfth  Corps  —  at  Antietam,  in  which  the  general  and  his 
men  distinguished  themselves  by  the  efficient  and  gallant  services  rendered  on 
that  bloody  field. 

Resuming  command  of  his  brigade,  which  was  now  composed  entirely  of 
New  York  regiments,  he  was  actively  engaged  at  Chancellorsville,  his  troops 
sustaining  severe  losses  in  that  disastrous  battle,  but  acquitting  themselves 
with  honor  and  credit. 

Although  the  record  of  Greene's  Brigade  is  replete  with  stories  of  successful 
achievment,  it  will  be  best  remembered  by  its  gallant  and  memorable  defence 
of  Gulp's  Hill  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  During  that  engagement,  on  the 
evening  of  the  second  day.  General  Meade  ordered  the  entire  Twelfth  Corps 
withdrawn  from  its  breastworks  and  sent  to  the  left  of  the  line,  over  three 
miles  away.  General  Slocum  protested  so  strongly  against  leaving  the  right 
of  the  army  thus  unprotected  that  Meade  permitted  Greene's  Brigade  to  re- 
main. Soon  after  the  Twelfth  Corps  had  gone,  Johnson's  Division  of  Con- 
federates occupied  the  vacant  breastworks,  making  at  the  same  time  a  vigorous 
attack  on  that  portion  of  the  works  still  held  by  Greene's  Brigade,  the  only 
obstacle  that  prevented  them  from  marching  unmolested  to  a  position  in  the 
immediate  rear  of  Meade's  army.  It  was  a  critical  period  in  the  history  of 
that  battle.  Although  this  attack  on  Greene  was  made  by  vastly  superior 
numbers,  suddenly  and  without  warning,  under  the  cover  of  darkness,  the 
gallant  veteran  promptly  disposed  his  slender  forces  to  the  best  advantage  and 
held  his  line  unbroken  throughout  the  night,  until  the  return  of  the  corps, 
which  attacked  the  Confederates  a't  daybreak,  drove  them  out  of  the  works 
and  forced  them  to  withdraw  from  that  portion  of  the  field.  This  heroic  de- 
fence by  Greene's  Brigade,  on  which  depended  for  hours  the  safety  of  the 
army,  formed  one  of  the  most  praiseworthy  episodes  in  the  history  of  Gettysburg. 

In  the  September  following,  the  Twelfth  Corps  was  ordered  to  Tennessee 
where  it  joined  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  fought  at  Wauhatchie 
Lookout  Mountain,  and  Missionary  Ridge.  In  the  former  engagement,  which 
occurred  in  the  Wauhatchie  Valley,  near  Chattanooga,  at  midnight  on  October 
28,  1863,  General  Greene  was  shot  in  the  face,  the  bullet  inflicting  a  severe 
wound  in  the  jaw.         , 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1351 

During  the  year  1864,  he  was  detailed  at  Washington  on  courts-martial. 
In  March,  1865,  he  returned  to  duty  in  the  field,  joining  Sherman's  army 
in  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  placed  in  command  of  a  provisional  division 
in  the  District  of  Beaufort,  and  served  in  the  closing  campaign  of  the  war. 
He  was  brevetted  major  genefal  of  volunteers,  March  13,  1865.  For  a  year 
after  the  close  of  the  war  he  served  on  court-martial  duty  at  Washington,  and 
then,  on  April  30,  1866,  was  mustered  out  of  the  volunteer  service  and  retired 
from  the  army. 

Resuming  the  profession  of  a  civil  engineer  he  was  connected  for  several 
years  with  the  Department  of  Public  Works,  Croton  Aqueduct,  and  City 
Reservoir  of  New  York.  His  services  as  a  consulting  engineer  were  also 
in  frequent  demand  by  other  cities  in  the  construction  of  water  works,  drain- 
age surveys,  street  railways,  and  bridges. 

He  was  elected  president  of  the  American  Society  of  Civil  Engineers  in 
187s;  was  appointed  member  of  the  Board  of  Visitors  to  West  Point  in  1881; 
and  for  several  years  was  president  of  the  New  York  Genealogical  and  Bio- 
graphical Society. 


BRIG.  GEN.  JOSEPH  B.  CARR. 

The  great  value  of  the  State  Militia  as  a  training  school  was  well  demonstrated 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  in  1861.  The  organization  of  large  armies  composed 
of  volunteers,  ignorant  of  military  drill  or  discipline,  created  an  urgent  need 
of  officejrs  who  had  some  previous  knowledge  and  experience  in  this  respect. 
General  Carr  at  that  time  was  colonel  of  a  militia  regiment  at  Troy,  N.  Y., 
and  the  State  authorities  gladly  availed  themselves  of  his  services,  giving  him 
a  commission  as  lieutenant  colonel  in  a  Troy  regiment  of  volunteers. 

Joseph  Bradford  Carr  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  August  16,  1828,  but  at 
an  early  age  was  a  resident  of  Troy.  He  joined  the  militia  in  1849,  receiving 
a  commission  soon  after  as  second  lieutenant,  next  as  captain,  and,  ten  years 
later,  one  as  colonel  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  New  York  State  Militia. 
In  early  life  his  educational  and  social  advantages  were  somewhat  limited,  but, 
by  his  strong  common  sense  and  force  of  character,  he  advanced  in  position 
and  in  the  confidence  of  the  public.  At  the  first  sound  of  war  he  opened  a 
recruiting  office  at  his  place  of  business  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  on  the  organization 
of  the  Second  New  York  Volunteers,  April  24,  1861,  was  appointed  lieutenant 
colonel  of  that  regiment.  An  officer  of  the  regular  army,  Lieut.  George  L. 
Willard,  Ninth  U.  S.  Infantry,  was  elected -colonel,  and  assumed  command  on 
the  25th;  but  as  the  War  Department  declined  to  grant  leave  of  absence  to 
any  more  officers  for  the  volunteer  service,  Carr  was,  on  May  loth,  advanced  to 
the  full  colonelcy. 

Colonel  Carr's  regiment  left  Troy,  May  18,  1861,  and  on  the  22d  sailed 
from  New  York  City  for  Fort  Monroe,  near  which  it  was  stationed  on  the 
ground  now  known  as  Camp  Hamilton,  It  was  the  first  Northern  regiment 
to  encamp  on  the  "  sacred  soil  of  Virginia."  With  his  men  Colonel  Carr 
participated  in  the  action  at  Big  Bethel,  June  10,  1861,  and  covered  the  retreat 


1352  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

of  the  Union  troops  after  that  unfortunate  afifair.  On  August  5,  1861,  the 
Second  New  York  was  ordered  to  Newport  News,  Va.,  where  it  was  encamped 
until  May  10,  1862,  when  it  returned  to  Camp  Hamilton.  While  at  Newport 
News,  March  9,  1862,  the  regiment  turned  out  under  arms  at  the  fight  between 
the  Monitor  and  the  Merrimac,  which  it  witnessed  from  its  position  on  the 
beach,  where  it  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle. 

On  May  18,  1862,  the  regiment  was  ordered  into  the  defences  of  Portsmouth, 
Va.,  and  remained  there  on  guard  duty  until  June  3d,  when  Colonel  Carr  was 
ordered  with  his  regiment  to  join  McClellan's  army,  then  in  front  of  Richmond. 
He  reported  at  Fair  Oaks,  June  6,  1862,  where  he  was  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Third  Brigade  of  Hooker's  Division,  to  which  his  own  regiment 
was  attached.  This  brigade,  better  known  as  the  Second  Jersey  Brigade,  was 
commanded  by  Colonel  Carr  during  the  Seven  Days'  battle,  in  which  it  was 
actively  engaged  at  The  Orchards,  Glendale,  and  Malvern  Hill.  He  com- 
manded the  same  brigade  at  the  battles  of  Bristoe  Station,*  Second  Bull  Run, 
and  Chantilly,  his  losses  in  the  former  engagement  being  unusually  severe. 

From  July  5th  to  August  7th,  Colonel  Carr  was  again  in  command  of  his 
regiment,  after  which  he  resumed  his  position  at  the  head  of  a  brigade. 

On  the  recommendation  of  General  Hooker  he  was  promoted  brigadier 
general,  September  7,  1862,  "  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  on  the  field," 
and  was  given  the  command  of  the  First  Brigade,  in  the  same  division.  He 
led  this  brigade  at  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  and  Gettysburg.  In  each 
of  these  battles  it  was  prominently  engaged,  its  casualties  attesting  strongly 
the  gallant  persistency  with  which  these  regiments  withstood  the  deadly  fire  of 
the  enemy.  When  General  Berry,  the  division  commander,  was  killed  at 
Chancellorsville,  Carr  succeeded  him,  and  the  ability  with  which  he  handled 
?he  division  in  that  terrible  battle  elicited  special  commendation  in  the  official 
reports. 

The  reports  for  Gettysburg  also  mention  his  "  cool  courage,  determination, 
and  skillful  handling  of  troops."  In  this  battle  his  horse  was  killed  under  him, 
and  in  falling  injured  the  general  severely;  but  he  refused  to  leave  the  field, 
and  though  sufifering  from  the  injury  still  directed  the  movements  of  his 
brigade,  nearly  two-thirds  of  whom,  when  the  fight  ended,  were  lying  dead  or 
wounded  on  the  field. 

In  September,  1863,  General  Carr  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Third 
Division,  Third  Corps,  with  which  he  was  present  at  Auburn  and  Bristoe 
Station.  His  division  was  also  engaged  at  Locust  Grove,  in  the  Mine  Run 
campaign,  during  which  nearly  all  the  lighting  fell  to  the  lot  of  Carr's  and 
Birney's  Divisions  of  the  Third  Corps. 

In  April,  1864,  when  the  Third  Corps  was  merged  in  the  Second  by  con- 
solidation, General  Carr  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Fourth  Division, 
"Second  (Hancock's)  Corps.  But,  owing  to  a  revocation  and  reissue  of  his 
commission  as  brigadier,  which  occurred  in  March,  1863,  he  found  himself 
.outranked  by  some  of  his  brigade  commanders,  and  so  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Army  of  the  James,  where  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
fortifications  on  the  Peninsula,  with  headquarters  at  Yorktown,  where  he 
assumed  charge,  May  9,  1864.     He  was  subsequently  given  a  division  in  the 

*August  27,  1862. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg,  i35S 

Eighteenth  Corps,  and  at  the  Mine  Explosion  before  Petersburg  he  was 
temporarily  in  command  of  two  divisions.  He  was  transferred  soon  after  this 
to  another  important  position  in  the  Army  of  the  James,  in  which  he  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  On  June  i,  1865,  he  was  brevetted  major  general 
with  rank  from  March  13,  1865. 

Having  been  mustered  out  of  service,  August  24,  1865,  he  returned  to  civil 
life,  and  resumed  his  residence  at  Troy,  N.  Y.  He  soon  took  an  active  part 
in  political  affairs,  and  was  elected,  in  1879,  Secretary  of  State  on  the  Re- 
publican ticket.  He  was  re-elected  to  this  oiSce  in  1881,  and  1883.  In  1885 
he  was  nominated  for  lieutenant  governor,  but  was  defeated  with  the  rest  of 
the  ticket 

General  Carr  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  New  York  Monuments 
Commission  for  the  Battlefield  of  Gettysburg,  and  served  on  the  Board  until 
his  death. 

In  1889,  an  illness  began  with  a  cancerous  growth  which  developed  on  the 
inner  surface  of  the  jaw.  Although  he  underwent  repeated  operations  for  its 
removal  it  proved  incurable,  and  ended  in  his  death,  February  24,  1895,  a 
result  which  he  had  long  foreseen,  and  which  he  awaited  with  calmness  and 
fortitude. 

General  Carr  was  a  man  of  exemplary  habits.  It  is  said  of  him,  by  those 
who  knew  him  intimately,  that  a  profane  or  objectionable  word  was  never 
heard  from  his  lips.  In  private  life  his  purity  of  character  commanded  wide 
respect;  in  public  life  his  unblemished  reputation  was  recognized  repeatedly 
by  the  suffrages  of  the  people. 


BRIG.  GEN.  FRANCIS  C.  BARLOW. 

One  of  the  remarkable  features  of  the  war  in  1861  was  the  promptness  with 
which  the  New  York  City  regiments  of  the  State  Militia  moved  to  the  front, 
fully  uniformed,  equipped,  and  well  drilled.  The  rpar  of  the  cannon  in  Charles- 
ton Harbor  had  scarcely  ceased  when  these  regiments  marched  down  Broad- 
way amid  the  enthusiastic  cheers  of  the  loyal  thousands  who  thronged  their 
Hne  of  march.  In  one  of  these  regiments  marched  a  private  soldier,  who  little 
thought  that  the  war  would  last  four  years,  and  that  before  its  close  he  would 
be  a  division  general. 

Francis  Channing  Barlow,  this  man  with  a  musket,  was  a  native  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  bom  October  19,  1834.  He  was  educated  at  Harvard, 
graduating  in  1855,  at  the  head  of  his  class.  He  then  studied  law  and  practiced 
in  New  York  City.  He  devoted  some  time  also  to  journalism,  and  for  awhile 
was  on  the  editorial  staff  of  the  New  York  Tribune. 

At  the  first  call  to  arms,  in  April,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
Twelfth  Regiment,  State  Militia,  which  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  for  three  months,  and  marched  immediately  to  the  defence  of  the 
National  Capital.  The  regiment  returned  to  New  York  at  the  expiration  of  its 
term,  Barlow  having  been  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy  in  the  meantime. 


1354  New  York  at  Gettysburg, 

On  his  return  he  re-entered  the  service  as  Heutenant  colonel  of  the  Sixty-first 
New  York  Volunteers,  a  crack  regiment  in  which  Gen.  Nelson  A.  Miles  also 
served  as  a  field  officer.  This  regiment  enlisted  for  three  years  or  during  the 
war.  After  some  delay  in  organization  it  left  the  State  November  9,  1861, 
and  proceeding  to  Virginia  was  assigned  to  Howard's  Brigade  of  Sumner's 
Division, —  afterwards,  Richardson's  Division  of  the  Second  Corps. 

The  colonel  of  the  Sixty-first  having  resigned.  Barlow  succeeded  him  while 
in  front  of  Yorktown,  on  the  Peninsular  campaign.  With  his  regiment  he 
fought  bravely  at  Fair  Oaks  and  in  the  Seven  Days'  battle,  achieving  honorable 
distinction,  for  which  he  was  promoted  brigadier  general,  September  19,  1862. 
This  commission,  however,  was  not  received  by  him  until  after  the  battle  of 
Antietam,  in  which  he  commanded  two  regiments,  his  men  capturing  three 
stands  of  colors  and  300  prisoners.  Barlow  was  severely  wounded  in  this 
engagement,  and  when  he  was  carried  from  the  field  it  was  thought  that  he 
would  not  survive  his  injuries. 

On  his  recovery  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  brigade  in  Steinwehr  s 
Division,  Eleventh  Corps,  with  which  he  was  present  at  Chancellorsville,  but 
was  not  involved  in  the  discreditable  surprise  of  its  commanding  officer,  his 
brigade  having  been  detached  early  in  the  day  and  sent  out  with  other  troops 
to  attack  the  rear  of  Jackson's  moving  column. 

At  Gettysburg,  he  commanded  the  First  Division  of  the  Eleventh  Corps. 
In  the  battle  of  the  first  day  he  was  again  seriously  wounded,  and  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Through  the  kindness  of  a  Confederate  officer.  Gen- 
eral John  B.  Gordon,  Mrs.  Barlow,  who  was  in  Gettysburg  that  day,  was  sent 
for  and  admitted  within  the  lines,  where  she  found  her  husband,  and  by  her 
care  and  nursing  aided  his  recovery. 

As  soon  as  his  wounds  would  permit  he  reported  again  for  duty,  having 
been  assigned  to  service  in  the  Department  of  the  South.  On  January  26, 
1864,  he  was  relieved  from  duty  there  and  ordered  to  report  .to  General  Han- 
cock at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  on  recruiting  duty  for  the  Second  Corps.  Upon  the 
consolidation  of  the  Second  and  Third  Corps,  March  26,  1864,  Barlow  was 
given  the  command  of  the  First  Division,  Second  Corps,  writh  which  he  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  except  the  Appomattox  campaign  in  which  he  com- 
manded the  Second  Division. 

In  Hancock's  famous  charge  at  Spotsylvania,  at  daybreak  on  May  12,  1864, 
Barlow's  Division  was  in  the  front  line,  carrying  the  works,  capturing  a  large 
number  of  prisoners,  including  two  general  officers,  cannon,  and  flags,  and 
achieving  the  first  real  success  of  the  campaign.  He  took  part  in  the  siege  of 
Petersburg  -nd  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army.  He  was  promoted 
major  general  of  volunteers  on  May  25,  1865.  Peace  having  been  restored  he 
resigned  his  commission,  November  16,  1865,  and  returned  to  civil  life. 

He  was  elected  Secretary  of  State  in  1865,  and  on  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  office,  President  Grant  appointed  him  United  States  marshal  of  the  southern 
district  of  New  York.  In  1871  he  was  elected  Attorney  General  of  the  State, 
an  office  which  he  held  two  years,  after  which  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law 
in  New  York  City. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1355 

General  Barlow  married  Miss  Arabella  Griffith,  who  accompanied  him  to 
the  field,  where  she  rendered  efficient  services  in  connection  with  the  hospital 
work  of  the  Sanitary  Commission.  Mrs.  Barlow  was  stricken  with  a  fever 
contracted  in  the  field  hospitals  and  died  July  27,  1864.  The  General  married 
again,  his  second  wife  being  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Francis  G.  Shaw.  General 
Barlow  died,  January  11,  1896,  in  New  York  City.  His  remains  were  taken 
to  Boston  for  burial. 

The  extraordinary  ability  and  efficiency  displayed  by  him  in  his  military  career 
is  apparent  in  the  official  reports  of  the  army.  A  few  citations  from  the  many 
commendatory  tributes  which  he  received  may  suffice: 

"  I  desire  especially  to  notice  the  coolness  and  good  conduct  of  Colonel 
Barlow,  Sixty-first  New  York."  (From  General  Howard's  report  at  Fair 
Oaks.) 

"  In  mentioning  officers  worthy  of  particular  commendation  I  cannot  fail  to 
award  the  highest  praise  to  Colonel  Barlow.  It  will  be  remembered  that  this 
officer  distinguished  himself  at  Fair  Oaks.  In  every  engagement  since  he 
has  only  added  to  the  laurels  there  acquired.  He  possesses,  in  an  eminent  de- 
gree, all  the  qualities  of  a  good  commander, —  intelligence,  coolness,  and 
readiness."     (General  Caldwell's  report  of  Seven  Days'  battle.) 

"  I  cannot  forbear,  however,  to  mention  in  terms  of  the  highest  praise  the 
part  taken  by  Colonel  Barlow.  Whatever  praise  is  due  to  the  most  dis- 
tinguished bravery,  the  utmost  coolness  and  quickness  of  perception,  the  great- 
est promptitude  and  skill  in  handling  troops  under  fire,  is  justly  due  to  him. 
It  is  but  simple  justice  to  say  that  he  has  fully  proved  himself  equal  to  every 
emergency,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  he  would  discharge  the  duties  of  a  much 
higher  command  with  honor  to  himself  and  benefit  to  the  country."  (General 
Caldwell's  report  for  Antietam.) 

"  Colonel  Barlow  fell  dangerously  wounded.  He  was  struck  by  a  small 
piece  of  shell  in  the  face,  and  a  grape  shot  in  the  groin.  On  this,  as  on  other 
occasions,  he  displayed  quahties  for  handling  troops  under  fire  which  are 
not  often  met."    (Lieut.  Col.  Nelson  A.  Miles's  report  for  Antietam.) 

"  Unfortunately,  General  Barlow,  who  had  been  directing  the  movements 
of  his  troops  with  the  most  praiseworthy  coolness  and  intrepidity,  unmindful 
of  the  shower  of  bullets  around,  was  seriously  wounded."  (General  Schurz's 
report  for  Gettysburg.) 

"  Entitled  to  high  commendation  for  the  valor,  ability,  and  promptness  dis- 
played. The  magnificent  charge  made  by  their  divisions  (Barlow's  and  Bir- 
ney's)  at  Spotsylvania,  on  the  12th  of  May,  stands  unsurpassed  for  its  daring, 
courage,  and  brilliant  success."     (General  Hancock's  report  of  Spotsylvania.) 

The  official  reports  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  abound  with  favorable 
notices  of  this  gallant  officer,  but  the  few  just  quoted  are  sufficient  to  indicate 
that  the  successive  promotions  which  he  received  were  well  bestowed  and  fairly 
earned. 


1356  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


BRIG.  GEN.  J.  H.  HOBART  WARD. 

The  Mexican  War  was  a  preparatory  school  which  afforded  the  instruction 
and  experience  that  made  many  of  the  officers  in  the  Civil  War  able  and  effi- 
cient generals.  General  Ward  served  as  a  non-commissioned  officer  in  Mexico, 
where  he  participated  in  the  siege  of  Fort  Brown,  was  wounded  at  Mon- 
terey, and  was  present  at  the  capture  of  Vera  Cruz. 

On  the  outbreak  of  the  Great  Rebellion  in  1861,  he  assisted  in  recruiting 
the  Thirty-eighth  New  York  Volunteers,  and  in  recognition  of  his  previous 
military  knowledge  and  experience  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of  that  regi- 
ment. 

He  went  to  the  front  immediately,  having  been  assigned  to  Wilcox's  Brigade, 
of  Frankhn's  Division,  in  which  his  regiment  fought  at  First  Bull  Run.  In 
this  battle  Ward  and  his  men  were  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  the  regiment 
sustaining  a  severe  loss.  The  brigade  commander  was  wounded  and  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  leaving  Colonel  Ward  in  temporary  command. 

During  the  Peninsular  and  Rappahannock  campaigns  of  1862,  his  regiment 
was  in  Bimey's  Brigade,  of  Kearny's  Division,  Third  Corps.  It  fought  gal- 
lantly at  Williamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  the  Seven  Days'  battle,  Manassas,  and 
Chantilly,  the  official  reports  of  these  battles  making  frequent  mention,  also, 
of  Colonel  Ward's  bravery  and  military  skill. 

He  was  promoted  brigadier  general,  October  4,  1862,  and  placed  in  command 
of  the  Second  Brigade,  Bimey's  (First)  Division,  Third  Corps.  He  commanded 
these  troops  at  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Wapping  Heights, 
and  Kelly's  Ford.  At  Gettysburg,  in  the  great  battle  of  the  second  day,  the 
opening  attack  of  the  enemy  was  made  on  the  position  held  by  his  brigade 
at  the  Devil's  Den. 

In  March,  1864,  the  Third  Corps  was  merged  in  the  Second,  but  General 
Ward  was  retained  and  placed  in  command  of  the  First  Brigade,  Bimey's 
(Third)  Division,  Second  Corps.  He  commanded  this  brigade  at  the  battles 
of  the  Wilderness  and  Spotsylvania.  In  the  latter  he  was  wounded  in  the 
head  by  a  piece  of  shell,  but  refused  to  leave  the  field. 

John  Henry  Hobart  Ward  was  bom  in  New  York  City,  June  17,  1823.  He 
came  of  good  fighting  stock,  his  grandfather  having  fought  in  the  Revolution, 
and  his  father  in  the  War  of  1812,  both  of  whom  were  disabled  by  wounds  re- 
ceived in  battle.  Young  Ward  was  educated  at  Trinity  Collegiate  School,  but  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  enhsted  in  the  regular  army,  joining  the  Seventh  Infantry. 
Before  his  term  of  enlistment  expired  he  was  promoted  through  the  non- 
commissioned grades  until  he  attained  the  rank  of  sergeant  major. 

Having  left  the  regular  army  he  was  appointed,  in  1851,  assistant  com- 
missary general  of  the  State  of  New  York,  a  position  which  he  held  for  four 
years,  after  which  he  was  made  commissary  general,  and  held  that  office  until 
1859.  At  the  close  of  his  services  in  the  Rebellion,  having  been  mustered 
out,  July  18,  1864,  he  returned  to  New  York  City,  where  he  now  resides. 


New  York  at  GETTYSBURa  I357 


BRIG.  GEN.  JOSEPH  J.  BARTLETT. 

General  Bartlett  entered  the  army  at  the  commencement  of  the  Civil  War 
as  a  captain  in  the  Twenty-seventh  New  York  Volunteers.  He  was  .com- 
missioned major  of  the  regiment  a  few  days  later;  and,  on  the  promotion  of 
the  colonel,  Henry  W.  Slocum,  to  a  brigadier,  Bartlett  succeeded  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Twenty-seventh. 

General  Bartlett's  war  record  is  a  long  and  exceptionally  brilliant  one.  As 
major  of  has  regiment  he  fought  at  First  Bull  Run,  and  from  that  time  until 
Appomattox  he  served  continuously  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  as  a  regi- 
mental, brigade,  or  division  commander. 

On  the  Peninsula  he  led  his  regiment  at  the  battle  of  West  Point,  May  7, 
1862,  one  of  the  preliminary  actions  in  that  campaign.  The  Sixth  Corps  was 
organized  a  few  days  later,  upon  which  Bartlett  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Second  Brigade,  of  Slocum's  (First)  Division.  He  commanded  this 
brigade  at  the  battle  of  Gaines's  Mill,  in  which  Slocum's  Division  went  to  the 
afd  of  Gen.  Fitz  John  Porter's  hard-pressed  troops.  In  this  engagement  Bart- 
lett's Brigade  encountered  a  hot  musketry  fire  that  cut  down  a  large  percentage 
of  its  numbers;  but  it  rendered  efficient  and  timely  service. 

Bartlett,  as  ranking  colonel,  retained  command  of  this  brigade  through  the 
Seven  Days'  battle,  Manassas,  and  Antietam  campaign,  his  regiment  and  its 
gallant  commander  achieving  glorious  distinction  at  the  successful  storming 
of  Crampton's  Pass,  in  Maryland,  September  14,  1862.  He  was  promoted 
brigadier  general,  October  4,  1862. 

At  the  battle  of  Saleci  Church,  May  3,  1863  (Chancellorsville),  Bartlett's 
Brigade  was  again  engaged  in  the  thickest  of  the  fighting,  losing  612  officers 
and  men,  out  of  less  than  1,500  carried  into  action,  and  adding  to  its  reputation 
for  steadiness  and  efficiency  under  fire.  Bartlett  was  highly  commended  in 
the  oflBcial  reports  for  his  gallant  service  on  this  field. 

His  brigade,  like  most  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  was  held  in  reserve  at  Gettysburg ; 
but,  in  the  battle  of  the  third  day,  it  advanced  as  a  support  in  the  charge  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Reserves.  In  October,  1863,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
First  Division  of  the  Fifth  Corps,  in  which  capacity  he  was  present  at  the 
brilliant  affair  at  Rappahannock  Station,  November  7,  1863,  and  in  the  Mine 
Run  campaign. 

On  the  reorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  by  General  Grant,  in 
March,  1864,  General  Bartlett  was  assigned  to  the  Third  Brigade,  First  (Grif- 
fin's) Division,  Fifth  Corps,  which  he  commanded  throughout  Grant's  Vir- 
ginia campaign,  fighting  in  every  battle  of  his  corps  from  Wilderness  to  Ap- 
pomattox, including  Spotsylvania,  North  Anna,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg, 
Boydton  Road,  Hatcher's  Run,  and  Five  Forks.  Few  generals,  if  any,  saw 
more  fighting  during  the  war,  or  served  so  long  and  continuously  at  the  front. 
He  was  brevetted  major  general  August  i,  1864. 

Having  been  mustered  out  of  the  service  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war, 
he  accepte-d  the  appointment  of  United  States  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  Nor- 
way and  Sweden.  He  was  afterwards  appointed  Deputy  Commissioner  of  Pen- 
sions. He  died  in  Washington,  D.  C,  January  14,  1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three. 


i3s8  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


BRIG.  GEN.  SAMUEL  K.  ZOOK. 

Samuel  Kosciusko  Zook  was  born  in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  March 
27,  1821.  His  boyhood  was  passed  on  his  father's  farm  and  in  the  public 
schools,  after  which  he  entered  an  academy,  completing  his  education  in  his 
twenty-first  year.  He  learned  telegraphy  while  a  young  man,  and  made  some 
discoveries  in  applied  electricity  that  attracted  attention  at  the  time. 

He  soon  evinced  a  liking  for  military  affairs,  joining  a  militia  company  in 
Pennsylvania  when  he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  In  1848  he  became  a  resident 
of  New  York  City  where,  after  a  term  of  ser\'ice  m  the  State  Militia,  he  was 
commissioned  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Sixth  Regiment.  This  regiment  en- 
listed in  April,  1861,  at  the  first  call  to  arms,  and  went  to  Annapolis,  Md., 
where  Colonel  Zook  was  made  military  governor  of  that  district.  The  Sixth 
New  York,  like  the  other  militia  regiments,  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  for  three  months  only.  On  its  return  to  New  York,  in  July, 
1861,  Zook  assisted  in  raising  the  Fifty-seventh  New  York  Volunteers,  which 
was  enlisted  for  three  years.  He  was  appointed  colonel.  This  regiment  left 
the  State  November  19,  1861,  and  proceeded  to  Washington,  where  it  was 
placed  in  French's  Brigade  of  Sumner's  Division, —  afterwards,  Richardson's 
(First)  Division,  Second  Corps.  Zook  served  in  this  brigade,  part  of  the  time 
as  its  commander,  until  his  death. 

As  colonel  of  the  Fifty-seventh  he  fought  in  the  Peninsular  campaign,  win- 
ning honorable  distinction  in  its  various  battles,  and  a  commission  as  brigadier, 
with  rank  from  November  29,  1862.  He  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
brigade  in  which  he  had  served  with  his  regiment  since  the  organization  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  he  led  this  same  brigade  at  Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville,  and  Gettysburg.  At  Fredericksburg  his  horse  was  killed 
under  him  in  the  assault  on  Marye's  Heights. 

During  the  desperate  fighting  of  the  second  day  at  Gettysburg,  Zook's 
Brigade  marched  with  its  division  to  the  Wheatfield  whither  it  had  been  ordered 
to  the  assistance  of  Sickles'  Corps.  While  riding  through  the  Wheatfield,  his 
men  driving  the  enemy  triumphantly  before  them.  General  Zook  fell  from  his 
horse  mortally  wounded.  He  died  the  next  day.  The  War  Department  issued 
a  commission  in  his  name  as  brevet  major  general,  dating  it  from  the  day 
when  he  fell. 


BRIG.  GEN.  DAVID  A.  RUSSELI!. 

David  Allen  Russell  was  bom  in  Salem,  Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  on 
December  10,  1820.  He  was  educated  at  West  Point,  graduating  from  there 
in  1845.  Entering  the  army  as  a  second  lieutenant  he  served  in  the  Mexican 
War,  during  which  he  fought  at  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo,  and  was  present  at 
some  minor  affairs.  For  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  on  various  occasions, 
he  was  brevetted  first  lieutenant  in  1847.  A  commission  as  captain  was  issued 
to  him  in  1854. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  I3S9 

During  the  early  period  of  the  Civil  War  he  was  stationed  at  Washington, 
where  he  was  on  duty  in  the  defences  of  the  Capital  until  January,  1862,  when 
he  was  made  colonel  of  the  Seventh  Massachusetts  Infantry.  In  command 
of  tliis  regiment,  which  was  in  Devens'  Brigade,  Couch's  Division,  Fourth 
Corps,  he  served  with  honorable  distinction  in  McClellan's  Peninsular  and 
Maryland  campaigns,  fighting  at  Yorktown,  Wilhamsburg,  Fair  Oaks,  and  in 
the  Seven  Days'  battle.  He  was  also  present  with  his  regiment,  but  not  en- 
gaged, at  Crampton's  Pass  and  Antietam.  In  the  meantime  he  was  brevetted 
a  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  United  States  Army,  and  on  August  9,  1862,  was 
promoted  major  of  the  Eighth  United  States  Infantry. 

He  was  promoted  brigadier  general  of  volunteers,  with  rank  from  Novem- 
ber 29,  1862,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Third  Brigade,  First  (Brooks')  Division, 
Sixth  Corps,  in  command  of  which  he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Fredericks- 
burg, December  13,  1862;  also,  in  the  second  battle  at  that  place.  May  3,  1863. 
The  latter  engagement  is  known  also  as  the  battle  of  Salem  Church,  near 
which  Brooks'  Division  was  engaged  in  a  bloody  conflict. 

In  the  famous  cavalry  battle  at  Beverly  Ford,  Va.,  June  9,  1863,  Russell  had 
the  honor  of  commanding  one  of  the  two  infantry  brigades  of  selected  regi- 
ments that  were  ordered  there  in  support  of  the  mounted  troops.*  At  Gettys- 
burg his  brigade,  with  most  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  was  held  in  reserve,  and  was 
but  slightly  engaged,  although  under  fire  part  of  the  time  and  sustaining  a  few 
casualties. 

In  the  brilliant  and  successful  affair  at  Rappahannock  Station,  Va.,  Novem- 
ber 7,  1863,  Russell  was  in  command  of  the  First  Division,  Sixth  Corps.  To 
his  column  was  assigned  the  desperate  task  of  assaulting  the  enemy's  intrench- 
ments,  which  were  carried  in  a  hand-to-hand  struggle,  resulting  in  a  signal 
victory,  and  the  capture  of  a  long  line  of  earthworks,  1,303  officers  and  men, 
several  pieces  of  artillery,  and  eight  battle  flags.  The  corps  commander  in 
his  official  report  of  this  action  states  that  "  To  General  Russell  is  due  the 
credit  of  leading  his  troops  gallantly  to  the  attack,  and  of  carrying  the  first 
intrenched  position  of  importance  during  the  war  on  the  first  assault."  In 
recognition  of  his  heroic  and  valuable  services  on  this  occasion  he  was  desig- 
nated by  General  Meade  to  go  to  Washington  and  present  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment the  flags  and  trophies  captured  in  that  memorable  affair. 

Resuming  command  of  his  brigade.  General  Russell  participated  in  Grant's 
Virginia  campaigns,  and  was  actively  engaged  at  the  battles  of  the  Wilder- 
ness and  Spotsylvania.  In  the  latter  engagement,  General  Sedgwick,  com- 
manding the  Sixth  Corps,  was  killed,  and  in  the  ensuing  change  of  commanders 
General  Russell,  who  was  the  senior  brigadier  in  the  corps,  succeeded  to  the 
command  of  the  First  Division.  For  meritorious  services  in  these  battles  he 
was  brevetted  brigadier  general  of  the  regular  army.  May  6,  1864. 

After  taking  part  in  the  battles  of  the  North  Anna, .  Cold  Harbor  and  Peters- 
burg, General  Russell  and  his  division  accompanied  the  Sixth  Corps  in  its 
hurried  movement  to  Washington  at  the  time  of  Early's  invasion,  and  thence 
to  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  where  it  became  part  of  Sheridan's  army.  He  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  Va.,  September  19,  1864.  At  a  critical 
moirent  in  that  battle  he  led  one  of  his  brigades  in  person  into  the  thickest 


1360  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

of  the  fight,  where  he  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  breast.  Concealing  his 
injury  from  the  knowledge  of  his  troops  he  refused  to  leave  the  field,  and,  soon 
after,  he  was  struck  by  a  fragment  of  a  shell  that  passed  through  his  heart. 

The  War  Department  issued  a  commission  in  his  name  as  brevet  major 
S-eneral  of  the  United  States  Army,  dating  from  the  day  he  was  killed.  General 
Wright,  commander  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  in  his  official  report  of  the  battle  pays 
the  following  tribute  to  his  memory: 

"  General  Russell,  who  lost  his  life  while  bravely  leading  his  command  into 
action  at  a  critical  period  of  the  battle,  was  an  officer  whose  merits  were  not 
measured  by  his  rank,  whose  zeal  never  outran  his  discretion,  whose  abilities 
Were  never  unequal  to  the  occasion,  a  man  tenderly  just  to  his  friends  and 
heartily  generous  to  his  foes.  In  the  memory  of  this  entire  command  there 
will  ever  live  a  sincerity  of  admiration  and  respect,  a  richness  of  glorious  recol- 
lections to  foster  the  widespread  influence  which  his  life  created,  worthy  only 
of  such  a  character  and  of  deeds  like  his." 


BRIG.  GEN.  CHARLES  K.  GRAHAM. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  Great  Rebellion,  General  Graham,  who  was 
then  employed  at  the  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard  as  a  civil  engineer  on  construction 
work,  volunteered  for  the  war,  his  example  being  followed  by  over  400  men 
in  his  employ. 

He  organized  the  Fifth  Regiment  of  the  Sickles'  Brigade,  at  Camp  Scott, 
Staten  Island,  and  was  commissioned  colonel.  This  regiment,  which  was 
afterwards  designated  as  the  Seventy-fourth  New  York  Volunteers,  left  the 
State  August  20,  1861,  and  proceeding  to  Washington  joined  its  brigade.  The 
brigade,  known  also  as  the  Excelsior  Brigade,  was  placed  in  Hooker's  Division, 
which,  upon  the  organization  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  became  part  of 
the  Third  Corps. 

On  November  9,  1861,  while  encamped  on  the  lower  Potomac,  Colonel 
Graham,  with  400  picked  men  of  his  regiment,  crossed  the  river  into  Virginia, 
at  Mathias  Point,  and  made  a  successful  reconnoissance  in  the  enemy's  terri- 
tory. He  served  in  the  Peninsular  campaign,  during  which  he  participated  in 
the  fighting  at  Fair  Oaks  and  the  Seven  Days'  battle. 

Upon  his  promotion  to  brigadier  general,  November  29,  1862,  he  was  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  the  First  Brigade  of  Birney's  Division,  Third  Corps, 
a  brigade  composed  of  six  Pennsylvania  regiments.  He  led  these  troops  at 
Chancellorsville,  where  they  were  hotly  engaged,  sustaining  the  heaviest  loss 
in  killed  and  wounded  of  any  brigade  on  the  field, —  but  fighting  in  splendid 
style  and  acquitting  themselves  with  credit. 

At  Gettysburg,  Graham's  Brigade  was  posted  at  the  Peach  Orchard,  on  the 
Emmitsburg  Road,  where  it  held  the  angle  or  salient  point  in  the  Third  Corps 
line,  a  position  Which  has  become  famous  through  historical  controversy.  While 
gallantly  defending  this  portion  of  the  field  against  superior  numbers,  General 
Graham  was  wounded  and  captured. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1361 

Having  been  released  through  an  exchange  of  prisoners  he  returned  to  duty 
in  May,  1864,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  James,  where  he  was  placed 
in*  command  of  the  Naval  Brigade,  including  a  flotilla  of  gun  boats  on  the 
James  River,  a  position  for  which  he  was  well  qualified  by  reason  of  service  in 
the  navy  when  he  was  a  young  man.  In  November,  1864,  he  was  in  command 
of  the  defences  of  Bermuda  Hundred,  including  over  6,000  men,  and  embrac- 
ing all  the  troops  between  the  James  and  Appomattox  Rivers. 

General  Graham  accompanied  the  first  expedition  to  Fort  Fisher,  in  which 
he  had  charge  of  the  landing  and  re-embarkation  of  the  troops,  his 
successful  management  of  this  dangerous  work  in  a  heavy  surf  eliciting  praise 
from  the  general  commanding,  and  a  recommendation  for  further  promotion. 
He  was.brevetted  major  general  of  volunteers  March  13,  1865.  The  war  hav- 
ing closed  he  returned  to  New  York  city,  where  he  resumed  his  business  as 
a  civil  engineer. 

Charles  Kinnaird  Graham  was  bom  in  New  York  City  June  3,  1824.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen  he  entered  the  United  States  Navy  as  a  midshipman,  and  served 
in  the  Gulf  during  the  war  with  Mexico.  After  seven  years  of  service  in  the 
navy  he  resigned  and  devoted  himself  to  the  study  and  profession  of  a  civil 
engineer.  In  1857  he  received  an  appointment  at  the  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard, 
where  he  had  the  supervision  of  the  construction  of  dry  docks  and  landing 
ways,  and  where  he  was  employed  at  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War. 

In  the  course  of  his  business,  after  the  war,  he  was  connected  with  the 
Broadway  Pavement  Commission,  and  the  Beach  Pneumatic  Transit  Company. 
In  1873,  he  was  made  chief  engineer  of  the  Department  of  Docks.  In  1878 
President  Hayes  appointed  him  Surveyor  of  the  Port  of  New  York,  an  office 
which  he  held  until  1883,  when  he  was  made  naval  officer  of  that  port. 

In  July,  1886,  he  was  appointed  engineer  of  the  New  York  Monuments 
Commission  for  the  Battlefield  of  Gettysburg,  a  position  which  he  filled  ac- 
ceptably until  his  death.    He  died  in  New  York  City,  April  15,  1889. 


BRIG.  GEN.  ROMEYN  B.  AYRES. 

General  Ayres  served  in  every  campaign  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  from 
Bull  Run  to  Appomattox;  at  the  former  a  captain  of  light  artillery,  at  the 
latter  a  division  general. 

Romeyn  Beck  Ayres  was  born  at  East  Creek,  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  De- 
cember 20,  1825.  He  was  educated  at  West  Point,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1847.  On  leaving  the  Military  Academy  he  was  ordered  to  Mexico,  having 
been  commissioned  a  second  lieutenant  in  the  Third  Artillery.  He  was  sta- 
tioned in  Mexico  for  three  years,  after  which  he  served  on  the  frontier  and  on 
garrison  duty  until  1859,  when  he  was  assigned  to  duty  at  Fortress  Monroe, 
Va.,  in  connection  with  the  artillery  school  for  practice  at  that  post. 

Shortly  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  in  May,  1861,  he  was  promoted 
to  a  captaincy,  and  was  prominently  engaged  at  the  battle  of  first  Bull  Run, 
July  21,  1861,  as  captain  of  Battery  E,  Fifth  United  States  Artillery. 
86 


1362  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

During  the  Peninsular  campaign  he  served  as  chief  of  artillery  in  Smith's 
Division  of  the  Fourth  Corps;  and,  subsequently,  upon  the  organization  of  the 
Sixth  Corps,  as  chief  of  artillery  to  that  corps,  with  which  he  was  present  at 
Antietam  and  Fredericksburg. 

Having  been  promoted  brigadier  general,  with  rank  from  November  29,  1862, 
he  was  given  command  of  one  of  the  brigades  of  regular  troops  in  Sykes's 
Division,  Fifth  Corps,  which  he  commanded  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville. 
At  Gettysburg  Sykes  commanded  the  corps  and  Ayres  the  division,  his  division 
achieving  special  distinction  by  its  participation  in  the  defence  of  Little  Round 
Top,  and  in  the  terrible  fighting  at  the  Wheatfield.  Ayres  continued  in  com- 
mand of  this  division  during  the  fall  campaign  of  1863  and  the  ensuing  winter, 
taking  part  with  his  troops  in  the  fighting  at  Bristoe,  Rappahannock.  Station, 
and  Mine  Run. 

On  the  reorganization  of  the  army  in  March,  1864,  he  was  assigned  to  the 
First  Brigade,  First  (GrifHn's)  Division,  Fifth  Corps.  All  the  regular  infantry 
in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  massed  in  this  brigade,  together  with  four 
volunteer  regiments,  forming  a  body  of  troops  which  any  general  might  esteem 
it  an  honor  to  command.  Under  General  Ayres  this  brigade  fought  at  the 
Wilderness,  Spotsylvania,  North  Anna,  and  Bethesda  Church. 

On  June  6,  1864,  Ayres  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Second  Division  of 
the  corps, —  succeeding  General  Robinson,  who  lost  a  leg  at  Spotsylvania, — 
and  retained  command  of  his  division  until  the  close  of  the  war,  during  which 
time  it  was  actively  engaged  in  the  assault  on  Petersburg,  the  battles  at  the 
Weldon  Railroad,  Poplar  Spring  Church,  Boydton  Road,  Hatcher's  Pun,  and 
Five  Forks.  It  was  present  also  at  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  the  Mine  Ex- 
plosion, and  the  surrender  at  Appomattox.  In  the  meantime  General  Ayres 
was  brevetted  major  general  of  volunteers,  August  i,  1864.  He  was  also  pro- 
moted in  the  regular  army  to  the  lieutenant  colonelcy  of  the  Twenty-eighth 
Infantry,  and  brevetted  major  general. 

After  the  war  he  served  on  various  military  boards  and  commissions,  and 
in  the  due  course  of  promotion  became  colonel  of  the  Third  United  States 
Artillery.  He  died  at  Fort  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  December  4,  1888,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-three. 


BRIG.  GEN.  ALEXANDER  SHALEK. 

The  Sixty-fifth  New  York  Volunteers,  or  "United  States  Chasseurs,"  has 
the  honorable  distinction  of  having  graduated  three  generals  from  its  camps, — 
Generals  John  Cochrane,  Alexander  Shaler,  and  Joseph  E.  Hamblin.  The 
regiment  left  New  York  for  the  front  on  August  27,  1861,  under  command  of 

■  Col.  John  Cochrane.    Shaler,  who  had  already  been  to  the  front  with  the  Seventh 
New  York,  was  lieutenant  colonel;  and  when  Cochrane  was  promoted  briga- 

.  dier,  July  17,  1862,  he  succeeded  to  the  colonelcy. 

On  its  arrival  in  Virginia,  the  Sixty-fifth  was  assigned  to  a  brigade  in  Buell's 
Division,  which  subsequently  became  famous  as  Shaler's  Brigade,  its  record 
on  many  fields  being  an  exceptionally  brilliant  one.     During  the  Peninsular 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1363 

campaign  this  brigade  served  in  Couch's  Division  of  Keyes'  (Fourth)  Corps, 
and  was  hotly  engaged  at  Fair  Oaks  and  at  Malvern  Hill.  It  was  at  the  close 
of  this  campaign  that  Shaler  attained  the  colonelcy  of  his  regiment,  Cochrane 
taking  command  of  the  brigade.  While  on  the  Antietam  campaign  the  division 
was  transferred  to  the  Sixth  Corps,  with  which  it  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg. 

General  Cochrane  having  resigned  in  March,  1863,  Shaler,  as  senior  colonel, 
succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  brigade,  which  he  led  at  the  successful  storm- 
ing of  Marye's  Heights,  May  3,  1863.  In  this  assault  he  was  conspicuous  for 
personal  gallantry,  for  which  he  was  rewarded  by  a  commission  as  brigadier 
general,  with  rank  from  May  26,  1863. 

At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  where  nearly  all  the  Sixth  Corps  were  held  in 
reserve,  Shaler's  Brigade  was  ordered  to  the  support  of  the  Twelfth  Corps,  then 
engaged  in  its  long,  persistent,  but  successful  contest  to  regain  possession  of 
its  breastworks  on  Gulp's  Hill,  which  had  been  vacated  when  the  Twelfth  Corps 
was  ordered  away  on  the  previous  evening  to  reinforce  the  left.  Shaler's  regi- 
ments took  an  active  and  efficient  part  in  this  memorable  struggle,  rendering 
timely  and  gallant  assistance  to  Slocum's  troops  in  the  recapture  of  their  works, 
and  the  re-establishment  of  the  Union  lines  on  the  right. 

In  the  fall  campaign  of  1863,  Shaler's  Brigade  took  part  in  the  brilliant  affair 
at  Rappahannock  Station,  November  7th,  and  in  the  movements  at  Mine  Run. 
In  January,  General  Shaler  was  ordered  with  his  command  to  Sandusky,  Ohio, 
to  prevent  an  anticipated  attempt  to  liberate  the  Rebel  officers  confined  on 
Johnson's  Island,  in  Sandusky  Bay,  where  he  remained  until  April  12,  1864, 
when  he  returned  with  his  brigade  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

At  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May  6,  1864,  after  some  hard  fighting  by 
his  brigade,  General  Shaler,  while  reconnoitring  his  position  in  the  woods, 
rode  within  the  enemy's  lines  and  was  captured.  He  was  sent  to  Charleston 
where  he  remained  a  prisoner  until  the  autumn  of  that  year,  when  he  was  duly 
exchanged.  On  reporting  for  duty,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a 
division  in  the  Seventh  Corps,  then  operating  in  Arkansas  and  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  District.  He  was  also  in  command,  for  several  months,  of  the 
military  post  at  Duval's  Bluff,  Ark.  He  was  brevetted  major  general  of  volun- 
teers, July  27,  1865,  but  hostilities  having  ceased  he  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice, August  24,  1865. 

Alexander  Shaler  was  bom  in  Haddam,  Conn.,  March  19,  1827.  He  enlisted 
in  a  regiment  of  the  New  York  State  Militia  when  but  eighteen  years  of  age. 
In  i860  he  was  made  major  of  the  Seventh  New  York,  and  went  to  the  front 
with  that  famous  regiment,  April  19,  1861,  the  first  regiment  to  leave  the  State 
for  Washington.  The  Seventh  having  returned  to  New  York  after  forty-five 
days  of  service,  Shaler  was  commissioned  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Sixty-fifth 
New  York  Volunteers,  which  was  mustered  into  service  for  three  years. 

Resuming  his  residence  in  New  York  City  after  the  war,  he  was  honored 
with  various  civic  appointments,  serving  from  1867  to  1870  as  president  of  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  Metropolitan  Fire  Department,  and  for  the 
ensuing  three  years  as  commissioner  of  the  Fire  Department.  In  1874-75  he 
was  consulting  engineer  to  the  Board  of  Police  and  Fire  for  the  city  of  Chicago. 


1364  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

He  was  made  major  general  of  the  First  Division  of  the  National  Guard, 
State  of  New  York,  in  1867,  a  command  which  he  held  for  nineteen  years. 
He  was  also  president  of  the  National  Rifle  Association  of  the  United  States,  in  ■ 
organizing  which  he  took  a  prominent  part.  He  is  the  author  of  a  "  Manual 
of  Arms  for  Light  Infantry,"  published  in  New  York,  1861.  Since  the  war 
he  has  been  a  resident  of  New  York  City. 


BRIG.  GEN.  STEPHEN  H.  WEED. 

Stephen  Hinsdale  Weed  was  born  in  1834,  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He 
was  educated  at  the  Free  Academy  and  at  West  Point,  graduating  from  the 
latter  in  1854.  Having  been  commissioned  a  second  lieutenant  in  the  Fourth 
Artillery,  he  served  on  the  Mexican  frontier,  where  he  was  stationed  at  Fort 
Brown,  Texas.  He  was  promoted  first  lieutenant  in  1856,  after  which  he  was 
engaged  in  the  Seminole  War,  in  Florida.  During  the  political  troubles  in 
Kansas,  in  1858,  he  was  stationed  at  Fort  Leavenworth;  and  then  he  served  in 
the  Indian  campaigns  until  1861. 

He  entered  the  Civil  War  as  captain  of  Battery  I,  Fifth  Artillery,  with  which 
he  saw  active  service  during  McQellan's  Peninsular  campaign,  his  battery 
being  attached  to  Sykes's  Division,  Fifth  Corps.  At  Gaines's  Mill,  where  he 
was  wounded  in  the  face  by  a  piece  of  shell,  and  in  the  Seven  Days'  battle,  he 
won  honorable  distinction  by  the  gallantry  and  efficient  manner  in  which  his 
guns  were  handled,  receiving  favorable  mention  in  the  official  reports  of  his 
superiors.  At  Manassas  and  Antietam  his  battery  was  also  actively  engaged; 
and  at  Fredericksburg  he  was  advanced  to  the  command  of  the  corps  artillery. 

At  Chancellorsville  he  was  in  charge,  at  one  time,  of  a  line  of  artillery  con- 
taining fifty-six  guns,  his  batteries  representing  nearly  every  corps  in  the  army. 
The  signal  ability  which  he  displayed  on  this  occasion  was  rewarded  by  a  com- 
mission as  brigadier  general,  with  rank  from  June  6,  1863,  and  he  was  placed 
at  the  head  of  the  Third  Brigade,  Ayres's  Division,  Fifth  Corps.  He  was  then 
twenty-nine  years  old,  and  one  of  the  youngest  officers  of  his  rank  in  the  Union 
army. 

At  Gettysburg,  in  the  battle  of  the  second  day,  he  was  ordered  to  the  support 
of  Vincent's  Brigade  on  Little  Round  Top,  where  he  arrived  just  in  time  to 
repulse  an  assault  on  that  stronghold,  the  loss  of  which  must  have  been  dis- 
astrous in  the  extreme.  But  the  summit  of  this  hill  was  swept  by  the  deadly 
fire  of  the  Confederate  sharpshooters  stationed  at  the  Devil's  Den  across  the 
valley. 

While  in  the  flush  of  triumph,  with  the  victorious  shout  of  his  regiments 
Tinging  in  his  ears.  General  Weed  was  struck  by  a  well-aimed  bullet  and  fell 
dead  on  the  ground  that  he  and  his  men  had  so  gallantly  won.  Of  the  noble 
sons  of  New  York  who  fell  on  that  historic  field  there  was  none  braver  or  purer 
than  the  young  brigadier  who  there  gave  his  life  in  defence  of  his  country  and 
his  flag. 


NEW  YORK  GENERALS  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

The  rank  given  in  each  title  is  that  held  at  Gettysburg.    Where  the  uniform  indicates  a  higher  rank 
it  is  because  of  subsequt-nt  promotion. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  13^5 


BRIG.  GEN.  ALEX.  S.  WEBB, 

If  there  is  anything  in  heredity  it  was  natural  that  Alexander  Stewart  Webb 
should  be  a  soldier.  His  grandfather,  Gen.  Samuel  B.  Webb,  fought  at  Lex- 
ington and  throughout  the  long  War  of  the  Revolution,  serving  with  distinc- 
tion on  General  Washington's  stafif  and  attaining  a  general's  commission  before 
hostilities  ceased.  His  father,  the  late  James  Watson  Webb,  was  also  an  ofificer 
in  the  regular  army,  in  which  he  served  eight  years.  The  latter  attained 
prominence  in  civil  life  as  Minister  to  Brazil,  and  in  journalism  as  the  editor 
of  the  "  Courier  and  Enquirer." 

Alexander  S.  Webb  was  bom  in  New  York  City,  February  15,  1835.  He 
entered  West  Point,  where  he  graduated  with  honor  in  1855,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  Second  Artillery.  After  service  in  Florida,  and  on  the  western  frontier,  he 
was  detailed  at  West  Point  as  an  assistant  professor  and  remained  there  over 
three  years,  leaving  in  1861. 

War  having  been  declared  he  sought  active  service  in  the  field.  He  was 
present  at  the  battle  of  first  Bull  Run,  and  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
throughout  the  entire  war.  On  April  28,  1861,  he  was  promoted  first  lieutenant 
of  the  Second  Artillery;  and  on  May  14th  following  he  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain in  the  Eleventh  Infantry.  On  September  14,  1861,  he  received  a  com- 
mission as  major  of  the  First  Rhode  Island  Artillery,  which  rank  he  held  during 
the  siege  of  Yorktown,  where  his  services  in  connection  with  the  artillery 
elicited  complimentary  notice  in  General  McClellan's  official  reports.  He  also 
served  with  honorable  distinction  at  the  battles  of  Hanover  Court  House, 
Mechanicsville,  Gaines's  Mill,  Malvern  Hill,  and  other  engagements  in  the 
Seven  Days'  battle. 

Having  been  commissioned  a  lieutenant  colonel  of  volunteers  he  was  as- 
signed to  the  Fifth  Corps  as  chief  of  staff  and  assistant  inspector  general,  a 
position  which  he  filled  with  honor  during  the  Antietam  and  Chancellorsville 
campaigns.  In  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  a  staff  officer  he  was  repeatedly 
under  fire,  winning  a  high  reputation  for  personal  bravery  and  executive 
ability  on  the  field. 

In  recognition  of  his  services  he  was  promoted  brigadier  general,  June  23, 
1863,  and  placed  in  coinmand  of  the  famous  Philadelphia  Brigade, —  Second 
Brigade,  Gibbon's  Division,  Second  Corps, —  with  which,  a  few  days  later,  he; 
fought  at  Gettysburg.  In  this  battle  it  fell  ±0  the  lot  of  Webb's  Brigade  to 
occupy  a  position  against  which  the  full  force  of  Pickett's  charge  was  directed. 
The  gallantry  with  which  the  Philadelphia  brigade  repulsed  that  desperate  as- 
sault has  become  a  matter  of  history ;  but,  it  should  be  added,  its  success  was 
due  in  no  small  degree  to  the  personal  efforts,  splendid  example,  and  unsur- 
passed bravery  of  its  general.  Webb,  who  was  wounded  while  gallantly  fight- 
ing in  front  of  his  line  in  the  hand-to-hand  conflict  that  occurred  there,  received 
from  the  commander-in-chief  a  bronze  medal  commemorating  his  "  distin- 
guished personal  gallantry  on  that  ever  memorable  field." 

During  the  campaign  of  manoeuvres  that  followed  Gettysburg  he  commanded 
the  division,  General  Gibbon  having  been  disabled  by  a  wound.    He  held  this 


1366  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

command  several  months,  during  which  occurred  the  engagements  at  Bristoe 
Station  and  Morton's  Ford,  In  the  former,  a  full  share  of  the  fighting  de- 
volved on  Webb's  Division,  his  horse  was  killed  under  him,  two  of  his  staff 
were  wounded,  and  the  mounted  orderly  who  carried  his  division  flag  was 
shot  dead  at  his  side. 

In  the  reorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  consolidation  of  various 
corps,  in  March,  1864,  he  was  assigned  to  the  First  Brigade,  General  Gibbon 
having  resumed  command  of  the  division.  General  Webb  was  actively  engaged 
at  the  Wilderness  and  in  Hancock's  grand  charge  at  Spotsylvania,  receiving  in 
the  latter  a  severe  wound  in  the  head,  which  necessitated  his  retirement  from 
the  field  for  several  months.  On  returning  to  duty  General  Meade,  command- 
ing the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  appointed  him  as  his  chief  of  staff,  in  which 
position  General  Webb  served  with  further  distinction  at  Hatcher's  Run,  the 
■fall  of  Petersburg,  Five  Forks,  and  Appomattox.  He  was  brevetted  brigadier 
and  major  general  of  the  United  States  Army,  with  rank  from  March  13,  1865, 
"  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  campaign,  terminating  with  the 
surrender  of  the  insurgent  army  under  General  Lee." 

For  a  year  after  the  close  of  the  war  he  served  as  inspector  general  of  the 
Military  Division  of  the  Atlantic,  and  then  returned  to  the  Military  Academy 
at  West  Point,  where  he  again  devoted  himself  to  the  duties  of  a  professorship. 
He  remained  there  two  years,  and  then,  having  been  commissioned  in  the 
meantime  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Forty-fourth  United  States  Infantry,  joined 
his  regiment,  at  Lincoln  Barracks,  D.  C.,  and  with  it,  still  retaining  his  rank 
as  brevet  major  general,  assumed  charge  of  the  First  Military  District.  He 
was  discharged  from  the  army,  at  his  own  request,  December  3,  1870,  after 
thirty-nine  years  of  active  and  highly  distingtiished  service. 

On  his  retirement  from  military  life  General  Webb  became  president  of 
■the  College  of  the  City  of  New  York,  a  position  which  he  still  retains.  The 
degree  of  LL.  D.  was  conferred  on  him,  in  1870,  by  Hobart  College.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  New  York  Monuments  Commission  for  the  Battlefields 
of  Gettysburg  and  Chattanooga.  He  is  the  author  of  the  ably  written  volume, 
^'The  Peninsula:  McClellan's  Campaign  of  1862"  (New  York;  1862),  one  of 
the  Scribner  Series  of  historical  monographs  on  the  more  important  battles 
and  campaigns  of  the  Civil  War. 

The  extent  and  meritorious  character  of  General  Webb's  military  services  will 
be  better  understood  and  appreciated  on  reading  the  following  report,  made 
January  25,  1898,  to  the  United  States  Senate  by  the  Committee  on  Military 
Affairs,  Hon.  Redfield  Proctor,  Chairman: 

"  The  Committee  on  Military  Affairs,  to  whom  was  referred  the  bill  (S.  1901) 
to  place  Lieut.  Col.  and  Bvt.  Maj.  Gen.  Alexander  Stewart  Webb  on  the  retired 
list  of  the  United  States  Army,  have  had  the  same  under  consideration,  and  sub- 
mit the  following  favorable  report: 

"  Alexander  Stewart  Webb  served  as  an  officer  in  the  United  States  Army  for 

■over  fifteen  years,  from  July  i,  1855,  to  November  25,  1870.     It  seems  scarcely 

necessary  to  submit  a  special  report  upon  the  bill,  for  the  service  of  General 

.Webb  was  of  so  conspicuous  a  nature  that  it  requires  little  remark.    Within  six 

months  from  his  graduation  from  the  United  States  Military  Academy,  on  July 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1367 

1 ,  185s,  he  was  on  active  military  service  with  his  regiment  in  Florida  in 
quelling  the  uprisings  of  the  Seminole  Indians,  there  getting  a  foretaste  of  the 
more  extensive  military  operations  that  were  soon  to  come,  and  in  which  he  was 
to  take  so  brilliant  a  part.  He  was  a  man  of  scholarly  as  well  as  of  military 
attainments,  being  assistant  professor  of  mathematics  at  the  United  States  Mili- 
tary Academy  for  the  three  years  immediately  preceding  the  Civil  War,  and 
principal  assistant  professor  of  geography,  history,  and  ethics  at  the  Military 
Academy  for  several  years  after  the  war. 

"  At  all  times  during  the  war  his  service  was  of  the  most  active  and  valuable 
nature.  He  was  in  the  field  in  Virginia  in  1861  and  participated  successively  in 
seventeen  different  actions  and  battles,  among  which  were  such  important  ones 
as  Mechanicsville,  Antietam,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  the  Wilderness,  and 
Spotsylvania.  The  gallantry  of  his  services  was  not  without  recognition.  For 
gallant  service  at  Gettysburg  he  was  brevetted  major  and  awarded  a  medal  of 
honor  'for  distinguished  personal  gallantry  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.'  He 
was  ^brevetted  lieutenant  colonel  at  the  battle  of  Bristoe  Station,  colonel  for  gal- 
lant and  meritorious  service  at  the  battle  of  Spotsylvania,  brigadier  general  for 
gallantry  in  the  campaign  ending  in  the  surrender  of  Gen,  R.  E.  Lee,  major 
general  for  gaHant  and  meritorious  service  during  the  war,  major  general  volun- 
teers for  gallant  and  distinguished  conduct  at  the  battles  of  Gettysburg,  Bristoe 
Station,  the  Wilderness,  and  Spotsylvania.  At  the  battles  of  Gettysburg  and 
Bristoe  Station,  in  the  Mine  Run  campaign,  and  at  the  battle  of  Morton's  Ford, 
the  Wilderness,  and  Spotsylvania  he  was  in  command,  successively,  of  the  Sec- 
ond Brigade  of  the  Second  Division  of  the  Second  Corps,  and  First  Brigade  of 
the  Second  Division  of  the  Second  Corps. 

"  General  Webb's  conduct  at  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863,  is  particularly  worthy 
of  mention.  He  was  in  command  of  the  Second  Brigade  of  the  Second  Division 
of  the  Second  Corps,  and  had  been  with  the  color-guard  of  the  Seventy-second 
Pennsylvania  Volunteers,  of  whom  every  man  was  wounded  or  killed.  General 
Webb  left  the  color-guard  and  went  across  the  front  of  the  companies  to  the 
right  of  the  Sixty-ninth  Pennsylvania  all  the  way  between  the  lines  in  order  to 
direct  the  fire  of  the  latter  regiment  upon  a  company  of  rebels  who  had  rushed 
across  the  low  stone  wall,  led  by  the  rebel  general  Armistead.  Thus,  General 
Armistead  and  General  Webb  were  both  between  the  lines  of  troops,  and  both 
were  wounded;  but  by  this  act  of  gallantry  General  Webb  kept  his  men  up  to 
their  work  until  more  than  one-half  were  killed  or  wounded.  In  this  action  he 
was  wounded  by  a  bullet  which  struck  him  near  the  groin.  General  Meade,  in 
bis  letter  presenting  a  medal  to  General  Webb,  mentions  this  act  as  one  not 
surpassed  by  any  general  on  the  field. 

"General  Webb  was- also  more  severely  wounded  at  Spotsylvania  May  12, 
1864,  in  the  head.  He  served  in  various  positions  after  the  war,  as  shown  by 
the  appended  documents,  until  December  31,  1870,  when  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  his  own  request.  He  is  to-day  president  of  the  College  of  the  City 
of  New  York,  and  is  ill  much  of  the  time  from  the  results  of  his  wounds,  and  as 
a  consequence  will  be  unable  to  continue  his  work.  The  bill  was  referred  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  for  remark,  who  referred  it  to  the  Adjutant  General,  whose 
report  is  herewith  printed,  and  will  be  seen  to  be  in  terms  of  the  highest  commen- 


1368  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

dation.  It  was  also  referred  to  the  Major  General  Commanding  the  Army, 
whose  report  is  herewith  printed.  There  is  also  appended  a  statement  of  the 
military  service  of  General  Webb  from  the  records  of  the  Adjutant  General's 
Office. 

"This  measure  was  also  before  the  Senate  in  the  Fifty-fourth  Congress, 
during  the  first  session  of  which  your  then  committee  ordered  the  same  favorable 
report,  and  the  bill  was  passed  by  the  Senate. 

"  In  view  of  the  facts  above  set  forth,  and  as  appearing  in  the  papers  herewith 
printed,  your  committee  recommend  the  passage  of  this  bill  without  amend- 
ment.'* 

War  Department,  Adjutant  General's  Office, 
Washington,  December  — ,  1895. 

Statement  of  the  Military  Service  of  Alexander  S.  Webb,  late  of  the  United  States  Army, 
compiled  from  the  records  of  this  office. 

He  was  a  cadet  at  the  United  States  Military  Academy  July  I,  1851,  to  July  I,  1855, 
when  he  was  graduated  and  appointed  brevet  second  lieutenant,  Fourth  Artillery,  July  i, 
:8ss;  second  lieutenant.  Second  Artillery,  October  20,  1855;  first  lieutenant,  April  28,  1861; 
captain,  Eleventh  Infantry,  May  14,  1861;  major.  First  Rhode  Island  Light  Artillery, 
September  14,  1861;  lieutenant  colonel,  A.  I.  G.  (by  assignment),  August  20,  1862; 
brigadier  general  of  volunteers,  June  23,  1863;  honorably  mustered  out  of  volunteer  service, 
January  15,  1866;  lieutenant  colonel,  Forty-fourth  Infantry,  July  28,  1866;  transferred  to 
Fifth  Infantry,  March  15,  1869;  unassigned,  March  24,  1869. 

He  received  the  brevets,  of  major,  July  3,  1863,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  Penn.;  lieutenant  colonel,  October  II,  1863,  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  at  the  battle  of  Bristoe  Station,  Va.;  colonel.  May  12,  1864,  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  battle  of  Spotsylvania,  Va.;  brigadier  general, 
March  13,  1865,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  campaign  terminating  with  the 
surrender  of  the  insurgent  army  under  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee;  major  general,  March  13,  1865, 
for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  during  the  war,  and  major  general  volunteers,  August 
I,  i854,  for  gallant  and  distinguished  conduct  at  the  battles  of  Gettysburg,  Penn.,  Bristoe 
Station,  the  Wilderness,  and  Spotsylvania,  Va. 

He  was  awarded  a  medal  of  honor  "  for  distinguished  personal  gallantry  in  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg." 

Service. 

He  was  on  duty  at  the  Military  Academy,  July  5  to  August  28,  i8sS. 

He  joined  his  regiment  January  9,  1856,  and  served  with  it  in  Florida,  in  operations 
against  hostile  Seminole  Indians,  to  November  19,  1856;  at  Fort  Independence,  Mass.,  to 
July  3,  1857;  absent  sick  to  September  20,  1857;  with  company  at  Fort  Snelling,  Minn., 
to  October  31,  1857. 

On  duty  as  assistant  professor  of  mathematics  at  the  United  States  Military  Academy, 
November  10,  1857,  to  January  7,  1861,  and  on  duty  with  the  West  Point  Light  Battery  to 
April  S,  1861 ;  with  battery  at  Fort  Pickens,  Fla.,  to  July  4,  1861 ;  in  the  field  in  Virginia 
to  August  12,  1861;  assistant  to  chief  of  artillery.  Army  of  the  Potomac,  to  August  20,  1862; 
inspector  general  and  chief  of  staff  of  Fifth  Army  Corps  to  November,  1862;  inspector  of 
artillery,  camp  of  instruction.  Camp  Barry,  D.  C,  to  January,  18,  1863;  inspector  general 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1369 

Fifth  Army  Corps  to  June  s&,  1863;  commanding  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division, 
Second  Corps  (temporarily  commanding  Second  Division,  Second  Corps,  August  i6 
to  September  5,  1863),  to  October  7,  1863;  commanding  Second  Division,  Second  Corps, 
to  April  5,  1864,  and  First  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Second  Corps,  until  severely  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Spotsylvania,  Va.,  May  12,  1864;  absent  sick  on  account  of  wounds  to  June 
21,  1864;  superintendent  of  recruiting  for  Second  Army  Corps,  and  on  court-martial  duty 
in  New  York  City  to  January,  1865;  chief  of  staff  to  General  Meade,  headquarters  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  January  11  to  June  28,  1865;  acting  inspector  general.  Division  of  the 
Atlantic,  July  I,  1865,  to  February  21,  1866,  and  on  leave  of  absence  to  June  13,  1866. 

Principal  assistant  professor  of  geography,  history,  and  ethics  at  the  Military  Academy, 
July  I,  1866,  to  October  21,  1868. 

He  joined  his  regiment  October  24,  1868,  and  commanded  it  at  Washington,  D.  C,  to 
March  30,  1869. 

At  Richmond,  Va.,  commanding  First  Military  District,  April  2  to  20,  1869,  after  which 
latter  date  he  performed  no  duty,  having  been,  at  his  own  request,  left  without  assignment 
in  the  consolidation  of  infantry  regiments. 

On  November  25,  1870,  he  requested  to  be  discharged  from  the  military  service  under 
the  provisions  of  section  3,  Act  July  15,  1870,  to  take  effect  December  31,  1870,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  accordingly. 
During  his  service  he  participated  in  the  following  battles,  actions,  etc.: 
Siege  of  Yorktown,  April  and  May,  1862;  Mechanicsville,  1862;  Hanover  C.  H., 
May  27,  1862;  Gaines  Mill,  June  27,  1862;  Malvern  Hill,  July  i,  1862;  Antietam,  September 
17,  18^;  Shepherdstown,  September  19,  1862;  Snicker's  Gap,  November  14,  1862;  Chan- 
cellorsville.  May  2  to  S,  1863;  Gettysburg,  July  i  to  3,  1863;  Bristoe  Station,  October  14, 
1863;  Mine  Run  campaign,  November  26  to  December  2,  1863;  Morton's  Ford,  February 
6,  1864;  Wilderness,  May  s  to  6,  1864;  Spotsylvania,  May  8  to  12,  1864;  siege  of  Petersburg, 
January  to  April,  1865;  Hatcher's  Run,  February  s  and  6,  1865. 

GEO.  D.  RUGGLES, 

Adjutant  General. 

War  Department,  Adjutant  Geneeal's  Office, 
Washington,  January  8,  1896. 

Sir.—  I  have  the  honor  to  return  herewith  Senate  bill,  No.  1106,  providing  for  the 
reappointment  in  the  Army  and  retirement  as  a  lieutenant  colonel  of  Alexan'der  S.  Webb, 
late  lieutenant  colonel  and  brevet  major  general.  United  States  Army,  which  has  been 
referred  to  the  Department  by  the  Senate  Committee  on  Military  Affairs  for  information. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  General  Webb  was  transferred  to  the  Forty-fourth  Infantry,  then 
known  as  an  invalid  regiment  composed  of  wounded  and  disabled  officers  and  men.  Upon 
the  reduction  of  the  Army  in  1869,  this  regiment  was  consolidated  with  the  Fifth  Infantry, 
an  active  regiment.  Many  of  the  officers  of  this  regiment  were  then  retired.  As  General 
Webb  was  physically  incapacitated  for  active  service  on  the  plains  with^the  Fifth  Infantry, 
he  sought  retirement.  In  this  he  was  unsuccessful.  He  thereupon  resigned,  and  has 
since  been  occupied  in  civil  life. 

Could  the  retiring  board  have  foreseen  the  effects  of  the  severe  wound  that  he  received, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  its  verdict  would  have  been  that  he  was  incapacitated  for  active 
service. 


I370  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

It  is  held  that  he  was  justly  entitled  to  retirement  at  that  time.  Had  he  then  been 
reported  incapacitated  for  active  duty,  he  would  have  gone  on  the  retired  list  with  the  rank 
and  pay  of  brigadier  general,  under  the  Act  of  July  28,  1866,  the  actual  rank  he  held  and 
was  exercising  when  wounded. 

His  appointment  and  retirement  now  as  a  lieutenant  colonel,  the  rank  which  he  held 
when  discharged  from  the  Army,  is  recommended  as  simple  justice  to  a  gallant  and  dis- 
abled officer,  distinguished  at  Bristoe,  in  receiving  Pickett's  charge  at  Gettysburg,  at 
Spotsylvania,  and  in  the  last  campaign  of  the  late  war.  I  inclose  a  summary  of  his  military 
record. 

Very  respectfully, 

GEO.  D.  RUGGLES, 

Adjutant  General. 
The  Secretary  of  War. 

[Indorsement  of  Major  General  Commanding.] 

Headquarters  of  the  Army, 

Washington,  January  20,   1896. 

Respectfully  returned  to  the  honorable  the  Secretary  of  War,  concurring  in  within  re- 
port and  recommendations  of  the  Adjutant  General. 

NELSON  A.  MILES, 

Major  General  Commanding. 


The  following  officers,  who  were  also  from  New  York,  commanded  brigades 
at  Gettysburg,  but  without  the  rank  of  general:  Cols.  Charles  R.  Coster,  Wil- 
liam R.  Brewster,  Thomas  C.  Devin,  Kenner  Garrard,  Patrick  Kelly,  W. 
Krzyzanowski,  David  J.  Nevin,  Archibald  McDougall,  James  C.  Rice,  Eliakim 
Sherrill,  George  L.  Willard,  P.  R.  De  Trobriand,  George  von  Amsberg. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  137^^ 


GETTYSBURG  BATTLEFIELD  MEMORIAL  ASSOCIATION. 

Some  acknowledgment  should  be  made  here  'of  the  patriotic  and  meritorious 
work  accomplished  by  the  Battlefield  Memorial  Association  through  the  intelli- 
gent, well-planned  efforts  of  its  directors.  In  the  performance  of  their  duties  tliey 
have  acquired  title  to  a  large  part  of  the  field,  constructed  beautiful  driveways, 
and  made  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  preservation  of  this  historic 
ground  and  its  transmission  to  the  future,  unchanged  in  its  topographical 
features.  The  student  of  history  is  indebted  to  them  for  the  valuable  assistance 
rendered  in  the  great  work  of  properly  monumenting  the  field  and  locating 
the  places  where  the  more  momentous  events  occurred. 

The  work  of  the  Memorial  Association  had  its  inception  in  that  already 
begun  in  the  establishment  and  care  of  the  battle  cemetery  at  Gettysburg, 
where  the  Union  soldiers,  who  were  killed  on  that  field,  have  a  final  and 
honored  resting  place.  And  so  the  history  of  the  Memorial  Association  should 
be  prefaced  with  some  account  of  the  original  movement  which  resulted  in 
the  acquisition  and  maintenance  of  the 

NATIONAL  CEMETERY. 

The  embattled  armies  had  scarcely  left  the  field  when  Governor  Andrew  Y. 
Curtin,  of  Pennsylvania,  relieved  from  his  arduous  duties  at  the  State  Capitol, 
by  the  failure  of  the  invasion,  hastened  to  the  battle  ground  to  render  assistance 
to  the  thousands  of  wounded  and  dying  men  who  were  lying  in  the  hospitals 
at  Gettysburg.  The  plan  for  a  soldiers'  cemetery  was  promptly  approved 
by  the  old  "  War  Governor "  and  the  co-operation  of  the  governors  of  the 
loyal  States  represented  on  that  field  was  readily  obtained.  A  suitable  site, 
containing  seventeen  acres  adjoining  the  village  cemetery,  was  selected. 
Governor  Curtin  directed  that  this  plot  be  purchased  in  the  name  of  his  State, 
to  be  used  for  the  interment  of  the  Union  soldiers  who  there  fell  in  defence 
of  the  Union,  and  that  burial  lots  should  be  tendered  gratuitously  to  other 
States  for  the  burial  of  their  dead.  While  the  cost  of  disinterment,  improve- 
ment of  the'  grounds,  and  erection  of  a  suitable  monument  should  be  borne  by 
the  several  States  in  due  proportion,  the  governor  stipulated  that  Pennsylvania 
would  assume  the  expense  of  maintenance. 

The  various  States  interested  made  appropriation  as  follows,  for  the  expenses 
incurred  in  laying  out,  beautifying,  and  maintaining  the  cemetery: 

Maine $4,300  00 

New  Hampshire 2,255  34 

Vermont 2,600  00 

Massachusetts 9.471  83 

Connecticut 3,000  00 

Rhode  Island 1,600  00 

New  York 26,072  86 

New  Jersey 4,205  30 


1372  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Pennsylvania $20,000  00 

Michigan 6,000  00 

Maryland  .  . , 4,205  30 

Illinois 11,961  00 

Wisconsin ,  2,526  36 

Minnesota •. 1,686  50 


$99,884  49 


These  amounts  were  not  determined  by  the  number  of  burials  from  each 
State,  but  by  the  proportionate  population  of  the  States  as  indicated  by  their 
representation  in  Congfress.  ,  ~^     ' 

Pennsylvania,  in  addition  to  the  $20,000  paid  as  its  proportionate  share  for 
inclosing,  ornamenting,  maintenance,  etc.,  expended: 

For  purchase  of  land $2,324  27 

Treatment  and  care  of  the  dead 835  40 

Removal  of  Confederate  dead  to  Washington  Cemetery,  Maryland,         3,000  00 


$6,159  67 


In  the  number  of  burials  the  various  States  were  represented  as  follows : 

Maine 104  Maryland 22 

New  Hampshire 49  West  Virginia 11 

Vermont 1  61  Ohio 131 

Massachusetts 159  Indiana 80 

Rhode  Island   12  Illinois 6 

Connecticut 22  Michigan 171 

New  York  ,  *866  Minnesota 52 

New  Jersey 78  Wisconsin 73 

Pennsylvania 526  U.  S.  Regulars  138 

Delaware 15  Unknown 979 

Total,  3,555. 

But  this  number  is  far  short  of  the  actual  loss  of  the  Union  Army  in  killed 
and  mortally  wounded  in  the  battle.  Col.  William  F.  Fox,  in  his  work  on 
the  "  Regimental  Losses  in  the  Civil  War,"  states  that  a  careful  examination 
of  the  muster-out  rolls  of  the  various  Union  regiments  engaged  at  Gettysburg, 
shows  that  5,291  Union  soldiers  lost  their  Uves  on  that  field  or  died  of  wounds 
received  there.     While  these  figures  may  not  be  correct  to  the  unit,  they 

*  But  see  Roll  of  Honor  containing  the  names  of  1,508  New  York  soldiers  killed  at 
Gettysburg. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1373 

approximate  the  exact  number  very  closely.  The  statement  thus  made  indicates 
that  1,736  Union  soldiers,  or  more,  died  of  wounds  in  the  hospitals  at  Wash- 
ingtoHj  Philadelphia,  and  other  places  to  which  they  had  been  carried;  and  that, 
as  was  the  case,  many  bodies  were  exhumed  and  taken  North  for  burial. 

For  instance:  Minnesota  has  52  graves  in  the  burial  plot  allotted  to  that 
State, —  all  from  one  regiment,  the  First  Minnesota  Infantry.  But  this  regi- 
ment lost  75  in  killed  and  mortally  wounded,  showing  that  23  soldiers  of  that 
regiment  died  of  their  wounds  in  hospitals  elsewhere,  or  that  some  of  its  dead 
were  removed.  As  this  regiment  reported  none  missing,  it  is  doubtful  if  any 
of  its  dead  are  buried  with  the  unknown. 

It  should  be  remembered,  also,  that  the  3,555  interments  in  the  National 
Cemetery  at  Gettysburg  include  some  soldiers  who  died  of  disease,  many  of 
the  sick  having  been  left  behind  at  Gettysburg  when  the  army  moved  from 
there. 

The  erection  of  the  little  headstones  that  mark  each  grave  —  known  and 
unknown  —  cost  $20,000. 

The  grounds  were  laid  out  by  Mr.  William  Saunders,  an  eminent  land- 
scape gardener,  from  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  work  of  disinterment  on  the  battlefield  and  removal  of  the  remains  to 
the  cemetery  was  commenced  on  October  27, 1863,  and  occupied  several  months. 
In  searching  for  the  remains  of  Union  soldiers  more  than  3,000  Confederate 
graves  were  examined.  The  Confederate  dead  were  frequently  buried  in 
trenches,  in  one  instance  150  being  found  in  one  trench.  No  difficulty  was 
found  in  distinguishing  the  Union  dead  from  those  of  the  enemy,  there  being 
a  marked  difference  in  the  material  of  which  the  uniforms  were  made,  aside 
from  various  other  means  of  identification.  The  superintendent  in  charge 
of  the  removals  states  in  his  report  on  the  work,  that  he  firmly  believes  there 
was  not  a  single  mistake  made  as  between  the  dead  of  the  two  armies. 

An  imposing  monument  of  historical  design,  costing  $50,000,  was  erected 
in  the  temetery.  It  was  dedicated  November  19,  1863.  Maj.  Gen.  Darius  N. 
Couch  was  in  charge  of  the  arrangements.  General  Meade,  whose  duties  at 
the  front  would  not  permit  his  attendance,  sent  a  letter  which  was  read.  After 
prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stockton,  the  oration  of  the  day  was  delivered  by  Hon. 
Edward  Everett.  This  was  followed  by  the  famous  Gettysburg  address  of 
President  Lincoln,  a  masterpiece  of  composition  and  oratory  that  has  evoked 
the  admiration  of  the  Enghsh-speaking  world. 

In  1872,  the  cemetery  was  transferred  to  the  care  of  the  National  Govern- 
ment, in  whose  charge  it  has  since  remained,  the  original  design  and  intention 
being  carefully  observed,  while  through  the  generous  appropriations  provided 
by  Congress  the  work  has  been  maintained  and  the  grounds  still  further  im- 
proved and  beautified. 

With  the  completion  of  the  cemetery  there  commenced  the  other,  though 
equally  valuable,  work  of  acquiring  title  to  lands  on  the  battlefield,  of  making 
these  localities  accessible  by  driveways,  and  properly  monumenting  the  more 
important  historic  places  and  positions  of  the  troops  engaged.  It  was  here 
that  the  mission  of  the  Battlefield  Memorial  Association  began,  the  wise 


1374  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

fulfillment  of  which  has  made  Gettysburg  the  most  famous,  attracfive,  and 
interesting  of  all  battlefields. 

In  1864,  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  passed  an  act  establishing  the 
Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association  and  conferring  the  powers  subse- 
quently exercised  by  that  organization.  But  owing  to  the  continuance  of  the 
war  and  the  need  of  every  energy  for  its  successful  prosecution,  there  was  no 
meeting  of  the  persons  named  as  incorporators,  some  of  whom  were  actively 
engaged  as  participants  in  the  campaigns  still  being  waged  against  the  enemies 
of  the  Union.  With  the  return  of  Peace  and  the  well-earned  privilege  of  rest, 
there  was  the  natural  disinclination  to  turn  attention  to  anything  connected 
with  the  war. 

But  in  1867  the  Pennsylvania  legislature  appropriated  $3,000  for  the  pur- 
chase of  land  on  the  battlefield,  which  was  further  supplemented  by  a  like 
amount  in  the  following  year.  This  money  was  used  in  the  purchase  of  land 
on  Gulp's  Hill  upon  which  the  breastworks  were  still  standing;  of  that  part 
of  East  Cemetery  Hill,  which  included  the  positions  of  Wiedrich's,  Reynolds', 
Ricketts'  and  Stewart's  Batteries,  and  on  which  the  lunettes  or  earthworks 
thrown  up  by  these  troops  were  yet  in  good  shape;  and  a  small  piece  of  ground 
on  the  slope  and  summit  of  Little  Round  Top. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Association  held  June  10,  1872,  the  following  persons 
were  chosen  as  officers  and  directors: 

President,  Governor  John  W.  Geary.     Vice-President,  *David  McConaughy. 

Directors. 

Henry  C.  Carey,  A.  D.  Heister,  *Joel  B.  Banner, 

J.  W.  De  Peyster,  *George  Arnold,  *Alex  D.  Buehler, 

*Edmund  Souder,  "'Dr.  Charles  Horner,  *J.  L.  Schick, 

*William  M.  Hirsh,  *John  M.  Krauth,  *David  McConaughy. 

George  Arnold  was  subsequently  elected  treasurer,  and  John  M.  Krauth, 
secretary.  The  work  of  the  Association  seems  to  have  been  carried  on  largely 
by  the  resident  members  of  tlie  board. 

In  the  summer  of  1878,  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Department  of 
Pennsylvania,  encamped  for  a  week  on  East  Cemetery  Hill.  John  M.  Vander- 
slice,  of  Philadelphia,  A.  A.  G.  of  the  Department,  was  very  active  in  its  work 
at  this  time,  and  succeeded  in  securing  the  assistance  and  active  co-operation 
of  that  influential  and  powerful  order.  The  Grand  Army  of  Pennsylvania 
held  their  annual  encampment,  on  the  battlefield,  for  a  week  each  summer  from 
1880  to  1894,  except  in  1884  and  1891. 

The  first  regimental  monument  erected  on  the  field  was  that  of  tlie  Second 
Massachusetts  Infantry,  Twelfth  Corps,  which  stands  at  the  eastern  edge  of  the 
meadow  or  swale  near  Spangler's  Spring,  and  was  erected  in  1879.  It  con- 
sists of  a  large  granite  block  and  base  placed  on  one  of  the  huge  boulders  that 


*  Residents  of  Gettysburg,  Pa. 


New  York  at  Gettysbueg.  1375 

are  scatterea  over  the  gfround  in  that  vicinity.  On  the  front  of  the  granite 
block  is  a  bronze  tablet  giving  a  brief  account  of  the  movement  of  the  regi- 
ment and  its  casualties.  The  next  monument  erected  was  that  of  the  Ninety- 
first  Pennsylvania  Infantry,  Fifth  Corps,  which  stands  on  Little  Round  Top. 
It  was  placed  there  in  1880,  and  was  the  first  monument  showing  an  architectural 
design.     It  is  a  castellated  structure  of  striking  and  pleasing  appearance. 

But  before  the  erection  of  the  Second  Massachusetts  monument,  Vincent 
Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Erie,  Pa.,  at  the  suggestion  of  Colonel  VandersUce,  had 
placed  a  tablet  on  Little  Round  Top  to  mark  the  spot  where  Gen.  Strong  Vincent 
fell;  and  Taylor  Post,  of  Philadelphia,  had  placed  a  small  tablet  to  denote 
tfie  place  where  Col.  Fred.  Taylor,  of  the  "  Bucktails,"  was  killed  while  leading 
a  charge  in  front  of  Round  Top.  These  two  markers  were  the  first  memorials 
of  any  kind  placed  on  the  battlefield,  outside  the  National  Cemetery. 

In  tlie  summer  of  1880,  during  the  encampment  of  the  Grand  Army,  Zook 
Post,  of  Norristown,  Pa.,  erected  a  marble  shaft  in  the  Wheatfield  on  the  ground 
where  Gen.  Samuel  K.  Zook  was  killed,  the  stone  being  taken  from  the  farm 
of  the  general's  father,  near  Norristown. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Memorial  Association,  July  27,  i;882,  a  resolution  was 
passed  for  the  purchase  of  the  remainder  of  the  ground  on  Little  Round  Top, 
and  for  the  purchase  of  the  Wheatfield;  also,  for  the  construction  of  an  avenue 
from  East  Cemetery  Hill,  by  way  of  Gulp's  Hill,  to  the  extreme  right  of  the 
Twelfth  Corps'  line.  The  superintendent  was  directed  to  reconstruct  the 
line  of  earthworks  wherever  it  was  practicable. 

Hitherto  the  board  of  directors  was  composed  exclusively  of  Pennsyl- 
vanians;  but  at  a  meeting  held  in  June,  1883,  representation  was  tendered  to 
the  other  States,  whereupon  Gen.  Joshua  L.  Chamberlain,  of  Maine,  Gen.  John 
C.  Robinson,  of  New  York,  Gen.  George  L.  Stannard,  of  Vermont,  and  Mr. 
J.  B.  Bachelder,  of  Massachusetts,  were  elected  members  of  the  board.  Mr. 
Bachelder,  who  had  rendered  valuable  services  as  historian  of  the  battle  of 
Gettysburg,  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  Tablets  and  Legends. 

In  1883  an  appropriation  of  $5,000  was  received  from  Massachusetts,  this 
State  being  the  first  to  grant  money  for  the  erection  of  monuments  on  the  field. 

In  1884  the  Association  voted  to  acquire  the  necessary  ground  to  erect  a 
monument  on  the  field  where  Gregg's  cavalry  division  fought,  and  furnish 
access  to  the  spot.  Gen.  Louis  Wagner  and  Mr.  Vanderslice  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  have  maps  of  the  battlefield  printed,  showing  the  land  owned 
by  the  Association.  At  this  meeting  it  was  also  decided  to  open  an  avenue 
along  the  line  of  the  position  held  by  the  First  Corps,  running  through  the 
grove  where  General  Reynolds  was  killed  and  extending  to  Oak  Ridge. 

On  May  5,  1885,  Directors  Wagner,  Bachelder  and  Vanderslice,  Commit- 
tee on  Legislation,  reported  that  the  State  of  Connecticut  had  appropriated 
$2,500;  Rhode  Island,  $1,000;  and  Delaware,  $500;  besides  making  appro- 
priations to  their  several  regiments  for  the  erection  of  monuments,  and  that 
Indiana  had  voted  $3,000  for  the  erection  of  monuments.  Also,  that  New 
York,  through  the  exertions  of  Gen.  Henry  A.  Bamum,  had  appropriated 
$10,000. 

Permission  was  granted  by  the  board  to  the  Second  Maryland  Confederate 


1376  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Infantry  to  place  a  monument  on  the  position  where  it  fought  at  Gulp's  Hill, 
subject  to  the  rules  of  the  Association  regarding  inscriptions  and  historical 
accuracy. 

On  September  22,  1886,  the  board  voted  to  open  a  driveway  along  the  line 
of  battle  held  by  th^  Eleventh  Gorps.  At  the  meeting  held  March  25,  1887, 
the  secretary  of  the  Ohio  Gommission  appealed  from  the  decision  refusing 
permission  to  carve  the  Twentieth  Gorps  badge  —  a  five-pointed  star  —  on  the 
monuments  erected  by  regiments  of  the  Eleventh  Gorps.  The  request  of  the 
Ohio  Commission  was  respectfully  refused,  as  the  Twentieth  Gorps  was  not 
present  at  Gettysburg,  and  the  badge  referred  to  was  the  proper  designation 
of  another  corps  that  was  actively  engaged  in  the  battle. 

In  1887  authority  was  granted  by  the  directors  for  the  purchase  of  the  house 
used  as  headquarters  by  Maj.  Gen.  George  G.  Meade,  commander  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  at  Gettysburg.  The  Committee  on  Location  was  instructed 
to  mark  with  a  suitable  tablet  the  place  where  General  Armistead,  of  the  Gon- 
federate  army,  fell  while  leading  the  final  assault  on  July  3,  1863. 

On  September  16,  1887,  Mr.  John  B.  Bachelder,  Superintendent  of  Tablets 
and  Legends,  tendered  his  resignation,  and  J.  M.  Vanderslice  was  appointed 
in  his  place.  The  board  directed  the  purchase  of  the  ground  on  Wolf  Hill  — 
the  extreme  right  of  the  Union  line  —  occupied  by  Neill's  Brigade  of  the 
Sixth  Gorps,  and  that  a  road  should  be  opened  furnishing  access  to  the  place. 

At  the  meeting  held  July  3,  1888,  a  committee  of  tlie  Ninth  New  York 
Cavalry  appeared  before  the  board,  and  "  established  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  those  present  that  this  regiment  fired  the  first  shot  of  July  i,  1863." 

On  July  27,  1888,  it  was  ordered  that  125  trees  be  planted  in  the  denuded 
portion  of  Ziegler's  Grove,  in  order  to  restore  as  nearly  as  possible  the  topo- 
graphical conditions  at  that  point  as  they  existed  at  the  time  of  the  battle. 

In  1890  the  board  authorized  the  purchase  of  so  much  of  the  Peach  Orchard 
as  might  be  required  for  the  erection  of  monuments  for  the  various  regiments 
that  fought  on  that  ground. 

At  a  meeting  May  10,  1891,  the  board  approved  the  plan  for  a  large  tablet 
at  the  Copse  of  Trees,  or  "  High  Water  Mark,"  at  the  position  of  the  Second 
Corps. 

On  May  19,  1893,  the  officers  of  the  Association  were  directed  to  petition  the 
Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  that,  in  case  it  should  pass  the  bill  granting  the 
right  of  eminent  domain  to  electric  railways,  it  should  exempt  the  battlefield 
of  Gettysburg  from  its  operations.  The  board  also  placed  on  record  its  protest 
against  the  construction  of  an  electric  railway  over  the  field. 

In  1894  a  committee  was  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  feasibility  of  trans- 
ferring the  property  belonging  to  the  Association  to  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment. On  October  3,  1894,  this  committee  reported  in  favor  of  transferring 
to  the  National  Government  the  land  owned  by  the  Association,  consisting  of 
600  acres  and  17  miles  of  driveways  thereon.  At  a  meeting  held  May  22,  1895, 
the  officers  of  the  Association  were  instructed  to  execute  the  necessary  deeds 
for  such  transfer.  On  motion  of  Col.  John  P.  Nicholson,  the  thanks  of  the 
Association  were  tendered  J.  M.  Vanderslice,  Esq.,  for  the  efficient  service  he 
had  rendered  during  his  many  years  of  active  work  as  a  member  of  the  Asso- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  I3^ 

ciation.  On  motion  of  Gen.  Daniel  E.  Sickles  it  was  ordered  that  a  history  of 
the  Association  and  its  work  be  published.  This  was  the  last  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Directors. 

The  following  persons  have  served  as  officers  and  directors  of  the  Gettys- 
burg Memorial  Association: 

PRESIDENTS. 

♦Governor  John  W.  Geary Pennsylvania 1872-1873 

*Gov6rnoT  John  F.  Hartranft Pennsylvania  1873-1878 

♦Governor  Henry  M.  Hoyt Pennsylvania  1879-1882 

Governor  Robert  E.  Pattison  Pennsylvania  1883-1886 

Governor  James  A.  Beaver Pennsylvania  1887-1890 

Governor  Robert  E.  Pattison Pennsylvania 1891-1894 

Governor  Daniel  S.  Hastings  Pennsylvania  1895-1896 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

Daniel  McConaughy  Gettysburg 1872-1879 

*R.  G.  McCreary  Gettysburg 1880-1883 

D.  A.  Buehler  Gettysburg 1883-1887 

*Col.  Chas.  H.  Buehler  Gettysburg 1887-1896 

SECRETARIES. 

*John  M.  Krauth  Gettysburg 1872-1890 

Calvin  Hamilton Gettysburg 1890-1896 

TREASURER. 

J.  L.  Schick  Gettysburg 1880-1896 

SUPERINTENDENT. 

N.  G.  Wilson  Gettysburg 1880-1894 

DIRECTORS. 

*Henry  C.  Carey  Philadelphia   1872-1879 

J.  W.  De  Peyster  New  York 1872-1879 

♦William  M.  Hirsh   Gettysburg 1872-1879 

*A.   D.   Heister   Pennsylvania 1872-1874 

*Joel  B.  Danner  Gettysburg 1872-1874 

♦George  Arnold   Gettysburg 1872-1879 

♦Charles  Horner,  M.  D Gettysburg 1872-1887 

J.  L.  Schick  Gettysburg 1872-1879 

♦Edward  Souder  Gettysburg 1872-1873 

♦H.  N.  McAllister  Gettysburg 1872-1873 

♦Gen.  Chas.  K.  Graham  New  York  1873-1879 

Gen.  Alex.  S.  Webb   New  York  1873-1879 

♦Gen.  Horatio  G.  Siclcel Pennsylvania  1874-1879 

♦Edward  McPherson  Gettysburg 1889-1896 

♦Gen.  W.  S.  Hancock   Pennsylvania 1880-1884 

♦Gen.  S.  W.  Crawford  Pennsylvania  1B80-1892 

Gen.  Louis  Wagner  Philadelphia 1880-1896 

John   M.   Vanderslice    Philadelphia 1880-1896 

Major  C.  W.  Hazzard   Pennsylvania 1880-1896 

♦Chpt.  John  Taylor Philadelphia 1880-1884 

Major  Robert  Bell  Gettysburg 1880-1886 

♦John  B.  Bachelder  Massachusetts 1880-1894 

Gen.  J.  L.  Chamberlain  Maine 1883-1883 

♦  Deceased. 
87 


1378  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

*Gen.  John  C.  Robinson  New  York 1883-1883 

*Gen.  George  Stannard  Vermont 1883-1883 

*Wra.  S.   Holtzworth Gettysburg 1884-1888 

Col.  Eli  G.  Sellers Philadelphia 1885-1885 

Col.  W.  W.  Dudley Indiana  1885-1885 

*Gen.  Henry  A.  Barnum  New  York 1885-1891 

Col.  Frank  D.  Sloat Connecticut 1885-1896 

Col.  Elisha  H.  Rhodes  Rhode  Island 1885-1887 

*Gen.  Byron  R.  Pierce  Michigan 1885-1887 

John  C.  Linehan New  Hampshire 1885-1896 

Col.  Charles  L.  Young  '.....  Ohio   ^qqI"'!?^ 

Col.  Silas  Colgrove  Indiana ^  ^'q?2 

*Gen.  Lucius  Fairchild  Wisconsin   1886-1896 

Capt.  Wm.  E.  Miller  Pennsylvania 1887-1892 

Capt.  H.  W.  McKnight,  D.  D Gettysburg ^^I'^^t 

Capt.  John  P.  Rea  Minnesota 1888-1888 

Col.  Wheelock  G.  Veazey  Vermont 188&-1896 

Col.  George  C.  Briggs  Michigan ooo    o^^ 

William  A.  Kitzmiller Gettysburg 1888-1896 

Hon.  S.  McSwope   Gettysburg 1888-1896 

*Gen."  Henry  W.  Slocum  New  York 1889-1894 

Gen.  Daniel  E.  Sickles  New  York 1892-1896 

*Gen.  Joseph  B.  Carr : New  York ^S92-i893 

C.  E.  Goldsborough,  M.  D Gettysburg ^§92-1896 

Gen.  David  M.  Gregg  Pennsylvania 'f^^^'S^? 

Col.  John  P.  Nicholson  Philadelphia   ^|9S-i896 

Gen.  George  S.  Greene New  York 1895-1896 

The  expenditures  made  by  the  various  States  on  account  of  the  Gettysburg 
battlefield,  including  purchase  of  land,  cost  of  monuments,  and  contributions 
to  the  work  of  the  Memorial  Association,  exclusive  of  appropriations  for  the 
National  Cemetery,  is  as  follows: 

Maine $30,300  00 

New  Hampshire 4,5oo  00 

Vermont I7>953  00 

Massachusetts 30,000  00 

Rhode  Island 3.4oo  00 

Connecticut 5.700  00 

New  York 224,825  00 

New  Jersey 44.255  00 

Pennsylvania 228,000  00 

Delaware 2,200  00 

Maryland 6,000  00 

West  Virginia 533  33 

Ohio  .  ; 40,000  00 

Indiana 3,ooo  00 

Illinois 6,000  00 

Michigan 10,250  00 

Minnesota 20,312  00 

Wisconsin 3,ooo  00 


$680,228  33 


*  Deceased. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  i379 

Pennsylvania  expended,  in  addition  to  the  $228,000  in  the  above  statement, 
$100,000  on  the  monuments  to  Generals  Meade,  Hancock,  and  Reynolds;  also 
$46,877.22  for  the  publication  of  "  Pennsylvania  at  Gettysburg,"  and  the  report 
of  the  commission. 

The  States  varied  in  the  amounts  granted  to  the  regiments  for  the  erection 
of  monuments.  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  allowed  each  regiment  $1,500  for 
its  monument;  Ohio  gave  each  of  its  regiments  $2,000;  Illinois,  $1,800;  Michi- 
gan, $1,350;  Wisconsin  and  Connecticut,  $1,000;  New  Hampshire,  Rhode 
Island,  and  Indiana,  $500;  Delaware,  $425;  and  Minnesota,  which  had  only 
one  regiment  at  Gettysburg,  expended  $16,384  on  a  monument  to  that  regiment. 
The  New  York  State  monument  in  the  cemetery  cost  $60,000. 

Many  of  the  regiments  added  from  their  own  funds  to  the  State  appropriation, 
and  thus  were  enabled  to  erect  monuments  more  costly  and  beautiful.  The 
Forty-fourth  New  York  monument  cost  $10,965. 

The  battlefield  is  now  under  the  care  of  the  three  commissioners  appointed 
by  the  National  Government.     They  are: 

Col.  John  P.  Nicholson,  Pennsylvania, 

Maj.  Charles  A.  Richardson,  New  York, 

Maj.  Wm.  M.  Robbins,  North  Carolina, 

Under  the  management  of  this  commission  the  work  inaugurated  by  the 
Memorial  Association  is  being  carried  on.  More  land  has  been  acquired,  and 
additional  driveways  of  superior  construction  have  been  made.  An  important 
and  interesting  feature  of  the  more  recent  work  is  the  "  Confederate  Avenue," 
which  runs  along  the  line  held  by  General  Lee's  forces.  Bronze  tablets  are 
being  placed  along  this  drive  which,  in  well-chosen  inscriptions,  indicate  the 
positions  and  movements  of  the  Confederate  troops.  The  more  important 
artillery  positions  of  each  army  are  marked  by  cannon  of  the  same  calibre  and 
pattern  as  those  used  in  the  battle  by  the  batteries  on  that  particular  ground,  and 
at  many  points  by  the  same  number  of  guns. 

Owing  to  the  noble  work  of  disinterested  men,  Gettysburg  has  become  a 
Mecca  to  which  every  veteran  may  well  make  a  pilgrimage.  For  generations 
to  come  it  will  be  a  place  of  attraction  to  the  patriot  and  the  traveler.  All 
honor  to  the  Battlefield  Memorial  Association, 


LOCATION, 

DIMENSIONS,  CONSTRUCTION  and  COST 


OF  EACH  or  THE 


NEW  YORK  MONUMENTS 


AT 


GETTYSBURG. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1383 


LOCATION  AND  COST  OF  MONUMENTS. 


NEW  YORK  STATE  MONUMENT. 

This  monument,  "To  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  State  of  New  York 
who  fell  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,"  is  appropriately  located  in  the  Gettys- 
burg National  Cemetery,  on  the  lawn  near  the  main  entrance  from  the  Balti- 
more Pike.  It  is  placed  at  the  centre  of  a  circular  plot,  90  feet  in  diameter, 
surrounded  by  a  pathway  10  feet  wide.  This  walk  is  connected  in  four  direc- 
tions, with  the  broad  drives  bounding  the  lawn,  by  paths  8  feet  wide,  laid  out 
with  slight  curves.  These  footways  are  constructed  in  a  substantial  manner 
of  broken  limestone,  and  surfaced  with  screenings. 

The  monument,  which  faces  the  plot  where  New  York's  soldiers  are  buried, 
is  27  feet  8  inches  square  at  the  base,  and  has  a  total  height  of  93  feet.  The 
polished  shaft  measures  S  feet  6  inches  in  diameter  at  the  lower  end,  and  is 
33  feet  high,  cut  in  four  sections.  The  bronze  statue  —  "a  female  figure, 
typical  of  the  State  of  New  York,  decorating  the  graves  of  her  soldiers " 
directly  in  her  line  of  vision  —  is  13  feet  high,  including  the  plinth,  which 
measures  3  feet  i  inch  in  diameter.  The  bronze  alto  relievo  is  9  feet  8^  inches 
in  diameter  and  5  feet  6  inches  high,  divided  into  four  panels,  upon  which 
are  portrayed  the  general  officers  from  the  State  engaged  in  the  battle.  The 
bronze  trophy  and  eagle,  at  base  of  shaft,  are  3  feet  8  inches  at  the  widest 
part  and  8  feet  6  inches  high  over  all.  The  bronze  inscription  tablets  on  the 
front  and  reverse  are  each  5  feet  4|  inches  wide  and  4  feet  7f  inches  high. 
The  lower  edge  of  bronze  alto  relievo  is  23J  feet  above  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  and  the  base  of  the  polished  shaft  is  35^  feet  from  the  ground. 

The  granite  used  in  the  construction  of  the  monument  is  from  Hallowell 
(Me.),  and  the  polished  shaft  is  of  Fox  Island  (Me.)  granite.  The  statue, 
alto  relievo,  trophy,  inscription  tablets,  State  shield  and  corps  badges  are  cast 
in  Standard  bronze.  The  Hallowell  Granite  Works  were  the  contractors  for 
the  granite  work.  The  contractors  for  the  bronze  statue,  alto  relievo  and 
inscription  tablets  were  the  Henry-Bonnard  Bronze  Company;  and  Mr. 
Maurice  J.  Power  was  the  contractor  for  the  bronze  trophy  at  base  of  shaft, 
State  shield  and  corps  badges.     Sculptor,  Caspar  Buberl.    Cost,  $59,095.30. 


10th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  Meade  Avenue,  south  side,  about  100  yards  east 
of  Hancock  Avenue. 


1384  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  3"  x  6'  3".     Total  height,  12'  i". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  i'  6"  X2'  11". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


39th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  east  side  of  Hancock  Avenue,  corner  of  Meade 
Avenue. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  7'  o"  x  7'  o".    Total  height,  20'  o". 
Bronze  inscription  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  4^"  x  2'  2". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

First  base,  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  Quincy  (Mass.)  granite 
and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.     Cost,  $1,500.         , 


40th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — Plum  Run,  about  130  yards  north  of  Sickles 
Avenue. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  7'  o"  x  4'  o".    Total  height,  6'  10". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  i'  ij"  x  i'  if". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  right  side,  i'  7"  x  i'  7". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
First  course,  of  Halowell  (Maine)  granite;  the  remaining  portion,  Westerly 
(R.    I.)    granite    and    Standard    bronze.     Contractor, —  Smith    Granite    Co. — 
Sculptor,  R.  D.  Barr.     Cost,  $2,225. 


41sT  NEW  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — Steinwehr  Avenue,  base  of  northeasterly  slope 
of  Cemetery  Hill. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  10"  x  5'  4".    Total  height,  12'  2". 
Bronze  trophy  on  front,  2'  5"  x  5'  5". 


New  York  at  Gettysburg,  1385 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Concord  (N.  H.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractor  and  sculptor,— 
Caspar  Buberl.    Cost,  $1,500. 


43d  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  east  side  of  Hancock  Avenue,  near  the  "  Gump 
of  Trees." 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  12'  o"  x  12'  o".    Total  height,  27'  10". 
Bronze  tepee,  6'  i"  x  16'  o". 
Bronze  statue  and  plinth,  2'  4"  x  2'  i"  x  7'  o". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  11"  x  3'  yj". 
Bronze  letter  tablets  on  right  and  left  sides,  each,  2'  7J"  x  2'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractor  for  granite  work, — 
John  Hanna.    Contractors  for  bronze  work, —  Bureau  Bros.    Sculptor, —  John 
J.  Boyle.     Cost,  $8,500. 


43d  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — On  north  side  of  Ndll  Avenue,  Wolf  Hill. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  9'  o"  x  6'  3".    Total  height,  7'  9". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  4'  5"  x  2'  o". 
Bronze  cartridge  box,  bayonets  and  branches,  4'  4"  over  all. 

Materials  of  Construction. 
First  base  of  Gettysburg    granite,  and    remaining  parts    Quincy  (Mass.) 
granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.  Cost,  $1,700. 


12th  AND  44th  NEW  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — This  monument  occupies  a  commanding  position 
on  the  southerly  end  of  the  upper  plateau  of  Little  Round  Top,  on  the  -west 
side  of  Sykes  Avenue,  and  is  the  largest  monument  on  the  field,  measuring  in 
length,  over  all,  28'  o",  and  in  width  21'  8".  Total  height,  44'  6".  The  in- 
terior of  the  main  building  is  12'  square  and  12'  high;  the  inside  of  tower  is  6' 


1386  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

in  diameter  and  contains  stone  steps  leading  to  the  roof  of  the  main  structure, 
which  is  used  for  observation ;  on  front  and  reverse  and  both  sides  of  doorway- 
are  bronze  letter  tablets,  each  2'  8"  x  2'  4";  and  around  on  the  walls  of  the. 
interior  of  the  building  there  are  arranged  14  bronze  inscription  tablets,  each 
I'  9"  X  3'  7". 

The  monument  is  built  of  granite  from  Prospect  Hill,  Waldo  County,  Me., 
and  the  bronze  work  is  cast  in  Standard  bronze.  Contractor, —  Geo.  H. 
Mitchell.    Contract  price,  $10,965. 


45th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  south  side  of  Howard  Avenue,  about  250 
yards  east  of  Mummasburg  Road. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  o"  x  6'  o".    Total  height,  16'  o". 
Bronze  trophy  in  front,  2'  2^"  x  5'  9J". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  right  and  left  sides,  each  3'  2"  x  l'  lo". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Concord  (N.  H.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, — New  England 
Monument  Company.    Sculptor, —  Caspar  Buberl.    Cost,  $1,613. 


49th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — Wolf  Hill,  Neill  Avenue,  north  side. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  8"  x  6'  8".    Total  height,  10'  6". 
Bronze  pattern  of  muskets  on  front,  each  4'  6"  long. 

Materials  of  Construction. 
First  base,  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  of  Quincy  (Mass.) 
granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


5Sd  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  Sickles  Avenue,  in  grove  west  of  the  "  Wheat- 
field." 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  6"  x  5'  4".    Total  height,  11'  o". 
Bronze  muskets  on  front,  each  4'  6"  long. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1387 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Concord  (N.  H.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractor  and  sculptor, — 
Caspar  Buberl.     Cost,  $1,500. 


54th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — Steinwehr  Avenue,  base  of  northeasterly  slope 
of  Cemetery  Hill. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  8'  o"  x  4'  2".    Total  height,  14'  4". 
Bronze  alto  relievo  on  front,  3'  o"  x  6'  3". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  o"  x  2'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Concord  (N.  H.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractor  and  sculptor, — 
Caspar  Buberl.    Cost,  $1,500. 


57th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  north  side  of  Sickles  Avenue,  in  southwestern 
part  of  the  "  Wheatfield." 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  7'  o"  x  7'  o".    Total  height,  14'  8". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  each  side,  2'  o"  x  i'  5"  each. 

Materials  of  Construction. 
First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  Quincy  (Mass.)  granite 
and  Standeird  bronze.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


58th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  Howard  Avenue,  about  250  yards  east  of  the 
Carlisle  Road. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  7'  8"  x  5'  8".    Total  height,  20'  o". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  o"  x  2'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors,  New  England 
Monument  Company.    Cost,  $1,500. 


1388  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

59th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — Hancock  Avenue,  west  side,  near  the  stone  wall 
and  adjacent  to  "  Clump  of  Trees." 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  7'  2"  X  5'  6".     Total  height,  11'  8". 
Bronze  bayonets,  cartridge  box,  and  laurel  sprays  on  front. 
Bronze  fatigue  cap,  and  palm  branch  on  reverse. 

Materials  of  Construction. 
First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  Quincy  (Mass.)  granite 
and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


60th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — On  Slocum  Avenue,  Gulp's  Hill. 

General  Dimensions, 
Base,  7'  o"  x  7'  o".    Total  height,  12'  4". 
Bronze  muskets  on  front,  4'  6"  long. 

Materials  of  Construction. 
First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  of  Quincy  (Mass.) 
granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


61st  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — In  the  "  Wheatfield,"  north  of  Sickles  Avenue. 

General  Dimensions 
Base,  6'  4"  x  6'  4".    Total  height,  10'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Oak    Hill  (near    Belfast,  Maine)    granite.      Contractors,— New    England 
Monument  Company.    Cost,  $1,500. 


63d  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument:— About  100  yards  north  from  highway  running 
from  Little  Round  Top  to  the  Peach  Orchard,  near  its  crossing  with  Pfum  Rum 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1389 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  9'  o"  x  5'  8".    Total  height,  9'  4". 

Bronze  letter  tablet  on  front,  3'  4"  x  i'  6". 

Bronze  has  relief  on  reverse,  "  Capture  of  a  battery,"  4'  6"  x  3'  2". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Base  courses  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  of  Quincy  (Mass.) 
granite  and  Standard  bronze.  Contractor, —  Maurice  J.  Power.  Sculptor, — 
Byron  A.,  Pickett.    Cost,  $1,500. 


63d,  69th  and  88th  NEW  YORK  INFANTRY. 

(Irish  Brigade.) 
Location  of  Monument: — Sickles  Avenue,  south  side,  in  grove  near  the 
"  Loop." 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  10'  2"  x8'  o".  ■'Total  height,  19'  6". 

Bronze  ornamentation  on  front  of  Celtic  Cross,  i'  8"  x  11'  4". 

Bronze  letter  tablet  on  front,  7'  5"  x   i'  o". 

Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  4'  i"  x  i'  o". 

Bronze  representation  of  "  Irish  Wolf  Dog  "  on  front. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Rock-face  base  courses  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  of  Quincy 
(Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.  Contractor, —  Maurice  J.  Power. 
Sculptor, —  Rudolph  O'Donovan.    Cost,  $5,000. 


64th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  Brooke  Avenue,  upon  rise  of  ground  in  woods 
in  advance  of  "  Wheatfield." 


General  Dimensions. 
Base,  8'  2"  x  8'  2".     Total  height,  17'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Concord  (N.  H.)  granite.     Contractor, —  W.  B.  Archibald.     Cost,  $1,685. 


1390  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

65th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — On  Gulp's  Hill,  west  side  of  Sloctun  Avenue. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  6"  x  6'  6".    Total  height,  13'  8". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite.     Contractors, —  Smith  Granite  Company.     Cost, 

$1,500. 


66th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  north  side  of  Sickles  Avenue,  in  grove  west 
of  Wheatfield. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  7'  o"  x  6'  3".    Total  height,  13'  9". 
Bronze  alto  relievo  on  reverse,  2'  o"  x  4'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Hallowell  (Me.)    granite  and    Standard    bronze.     Contractor, —  Maurice  J. 
Power.    Sculptor, —  Byron  M.  Pickett.    Cost,  $1,500. 


67th  NEW  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: —  On  Gulp's  Hill,  upon  west  side  of  Slocum  Avenue. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  4"  x  6'  4".    Total  height,  14'  4". 

Bronze  has  relief,  "  It  is  over,"  on  front,  2'  o"  x  2'  2", 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Sculptor, —  S.  J.  O'Kelley.    Cost,  $1,500. 


68th  NEW  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — Steinwehr  Avenue,  base  of  northeasterly  slope 
of  Cemetery  Hill. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1391 


General  Dimensions. 


Base,  6'  9*  x  6'  9".    Total  height,  12'  o". 

Bronze  finial  made  up  of  four  cartridge  boxes,  belt,  and  fatigue  cap. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  Quincy  (Mass.)  granite 
and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


SICKLES'  EXCELSIOR  BRIGADE. 
70th,  71st,  73d,  73d,  74th  New  York  Infantry. 
Location  of  Monument: — On  Sickles  Avenue,  north  of  highway  leading 
from  Peach  Orchard  to  Little  Round  Top. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base  (pentagonal  in  form),  6'  2",  each  side.     Total  height,  21'  7". 
Bronze  letter  tablets  on  all  five  sides,  4'  3"  x  i'  10". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  frieze,  5'  6"  in  diameter  x  i'  6"  high. 
Bronze  eagle,  2'  9"  high. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Concord  (N.  H.)  granite,  except  polished  columns  which  are  of  hypersthene 
granite  from  Keeseville,  N.  Y.  Contractors  for  granite  work, —  New  England 
Monument  Company.  Contractor  for  bronze  work, —  Maurice  J.  Power. 
Sculptor, —  Theo.  Bauer.    Cost,  $7,500. 


73d  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  In  field  between  Sickles  Avenue  and  the  Emmits- 
burg  Road,  a  short  distance  south  of  Government  Avenue. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  8'  o"  x  7'  o".    Total  height,  14'  o". 
Bronze  statues  and  plinth,  4'  o"  x  3'  o"  x  7'  o"  high. 

Bronze  letter  tablets  on  front  and  reverse,  each  3'  o"  x  2'  o" ;  on  right  and 
left  sides,  each  2'  o"  x  2'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Barre  (Vt.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze. '  Contractors, — Hoffmann  &  Pro- 
chazka.     Sculptor, —  Jos.  Moretti.     Cost,  $5,000. 


1392  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

76th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — Reynolds  Avenue,  east  side,  300  yards  north  of 
railroad  cut. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  9"  x  6'  9".    Total  height,  14'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


77th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — On  southeasterly  slope  of  Powers'  Hill. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  7'  II"  X  4'  7".    Total  height,  7'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  remaining  parts    Quincy  (Mass.)  granite. 
Contractors, —  Thomas  &  Miller.     Cost,  $1,500. 


78th  AND  102d  NEW  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  Gulp's  Hill,  upon  east  side  of  Slocum  Avenue, 
adjacent  to  breastworks. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  8'  5"  x  5'  8".    Total  height,  10'  o". 
Bronze  palm  branches  on  front,  each  2'  o"  long. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Smith  Granite 
Company.    Sculptor, —  R.  D.  Barr.    Cost,  $3,000. 


80th  NEW  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — Reynolds  Avenue,  east  side,  200  yards  south  of 
Reynolds  Grove, 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  9'  3"  X  7'  o".    Total  height,  13'  o". 
Bronze  relief  on  front,  2'  o"  in  diameter. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1393 

Materials  of  Construction. 
First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  oif  Quincy  (Mass.) 
granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $2,000. 


83d  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — About  300  yards  south  of  "Clump  of  Trees," 
and  between  Hancock  Avenue  and  the  "  Stone  Wall." 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  8'  4"  x  6'  8".     Total  height,  14'  3". 
Bronze  ornamentation  on  front  and  reverse,  i'  10"  x  5'  o". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  3'  5"  x  i'  8". 
Bronze  letter  tablets  on  right  and  left  sides,  2'  5"  x  i'  8". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Concord  (N.  H.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractor, —  Maurice  J. 
Power.    Cost,  $2,500. 


83d  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — On  west  side  of  Reynolds  Avenue,  about  250 
yards  in  a  southerly  direction  from  the  Mummasburg  Road. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  15'  o"  x  15'  o".     Total  height,  51'  o". 

Bronze  eagle,  5'  8"  spread  of  wings. 

Bronze  bad^e,  "  9th  N.  G.  S.  N.  Y.,"  i'  6"  in  diameter. 

Bronze  letter  tablets  on  right  and  left  sides,  2'  11"  x  2'  4". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Alternate  courses  in  shaft 
of  red  and  white  stone.    Contractors, —  Smith  Granite  Company.    Sculptor, — 
J.  G.  Hamilton.     Cost,  $6,000. 


84th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — On  west  side  of  Reynolds  Avenue,  adjacent  to 
Railroad  Cut. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  9'  o"  x  9'  o".    Total  height,  18'  8". 
Granite  statue  and  plinth,  2'  3^"  square  x  8'  6"  high. 
Bronze  shield  of  City  of  Brooklyn  on  reverse,  i'  6"  in  diameter. 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  right  side,  i'  6"  in  diameter. 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  left  side,  i'  6"  in  diameter. 

88 


1394  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Westerly  (R,  I.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.  Contractors, —  Smith  Granite 
Company.    Sculptor,— R.  D.  Barr.    Cost,  $3,510. 

The  Veteran    Organization    of    this  regiment    have    placed    a  marker  on 
Reynolds  Avenue  near  the  McPherson  Buildings. 
Base,  3'  I"  X  2'  4".    Total  height,  4'  2". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  front,  2'  o"  x  i'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Gettysburg  granite.     Contractor, —  J.  Flaharty.     Cost,  $288.54. 
The  regiment  has  a  bronze  tablet  on  Gulp's  Hill  also.    Cost,  $213.65. 

The  Veteran  Organization  has  also  placed  a  tablet  in  a  boulder  on  Slocum 
Avenue,  Gulp's  Hill. 

Bronze  inscription  tablet,  3'  o"  x  2'  o".  Contractor, —  Maurice  J.  Power. 
Cost,  $213.65. 


86th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  east  side  of  Sickles  Avenue,  about  200  yards 
north  of  Devil's  Den. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  7'  o"  x  7'  o".     Total  height,  12'  4". 
Bronze  bas  reUef  on  front,  2'  if  x  2'  5J". 

I 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Sculptor,— S.  J.  O'Kelly.     Cost,  $1,500. 


93d  NEW  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  west  side  of  Taneytown  Road,  corner  of  Meade 
Avenue,  opposite  Meade's  Headquarters. 


General  Dimensions. 


/ 


Base,  6'  6"  x  6'  6".    Total  height,  9'  4". 

Bronze  reproduction  of  soldier's  accoutrements  attached  to  sides  of  finial. 

Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  6"  x  i'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.     Cost,  $1,500. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg,  _  1395 

t 

.94th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  west  side  of  Reynolds  Avenue,  about  425 
yards  south  of  the  Mummasburg  Road. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  o"  x  6'  o".    Total  height,  14'  o". 

Bronze  muskets  on  front,  6'  o"  high. 

Bronze  letter  tablet  on  left  side,  2'  5^"  x  i'  6f ". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Smith  Granite 
Company.    Cost,  $1,500. 


95th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — Reynolds  Avenue,  east  side,  adjoining  railroad 
cut. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  6"  x6'  6".     Total  height,  12'  o". 
Bronze  letter  tablets  on  right  and  left  sides,  each  2'  4"  x  2'  10". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Oak  Hill  (Me.)  granite.     Polished  ball  of  Thousand  Islands  (N.  Y.)  red 
granite.      Tablets   of  Standard  bronze.      Contractors, —  Frederick    &   Field. 
Cost,  $1,500. 


97th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument : —  On  west  side  of  Reynolds  Avenue,  about  300 
yards  south  of  its  junction  with  the  Mummasbtu"g  Road. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  7'  o"  x  7'  o".    Total  height,  12'  4". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite.     Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.     Cost,  $1,500. 


104th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — Oak  Hill,  easterly  slope,  near  Observation  Tower. 


1396  Nesw  York  at  Gettysburg. 

General  Dimensions, 
Base,  7'  o"  x  7'  o".    Total  height,  14'  4". 

Bronze  crossed  sabres,  cartridge  box,  and  laurel  branches,  on  front,  3'  3" 
long  (over  all). 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.     Cost,  $1,500. 


107th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument : —  On  Gulp's  Hill,  east  side  of  Slocum  Avenue,  near 
Spangler's  Spring. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  4"  x  6'  4".    Total  height,  15'  i". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite.     Contractors, —  A.  W.  Ayres  &  Son.    Cost,  $1,500. 


108th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  east  side  of  Hancock  Avenue  in  Ziegler's 
Grove. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  9'  6"x6'  o".     Total  height,  11'  o". 
Granite  alto  relievo  on  face,  6'  2"  x  2'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite.     Contractors, —  Smith  Granite  Company.     Sculp- 
tor,—R.  D.  Barr.     Cost,  $1,500.  ^ 


lllTH  NEW  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  west  side  of  Hancock  Avenue,  near  Ziegler's 
Grove. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  8'  2"  x  5'  10".     Total  height,  14'  3". 
Bronze  statue  and  plinth,  3'  o"  x  2'  2"  x  6'  9"  high. 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  9"  x  i'  10". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.     Sculptor,^-  Caspar   Buberl.     Cost,  $2,400. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  I397 


119th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  south  side  of  Howard  Avenue,  a  short  distance 
east  of  its  intersection  with  the  Carlisle  Road. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  o"  x  6'  o".    Total  height,  ii'  o". 
Bronze  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  i"  x  3'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Smith  Granite 
Company.    Cost,  $1,500. 


130th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — Sickles  Avenue,  east  side,  150  yards  northerly 
from  Government  Avenue. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  8'  o"  in  diameter.     Total  height,  25'  o". 

Bronze  letter  tablets  on  front  and  reverse,  each  2'  7"  x  2'  6". 

Circular  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  i'  6"  in  diameter. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Cost,  $2,600. 


131st  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — Sykes  Avenue,  west  side,  northerly  slope  of  Little 
Round  Top. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  7'  o"  x  7'  o".     Total  height,  17'  6". 

Bronze  statue  and  plinth,  2'  2"  x  2'  2"  x  7'  4"  high. 

Bronze  medallion  of  Col.  Emory  Upton,  2'  in  diameter. 

Bronze  letter  tablets  on  right  and  left  sides,  each   2'  6"  x  3'  5". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Sculptor,—  S.  J.  O'Kelley.    Cost,  $2,900. 


1398  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


122d  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  Slocum  Avenue,  adjoining  breastwprks,  Gulp's 
Hill. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  o"x6'  o".    Total  height,  11'  3". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Barre  (Vt.)  granite.     Contractors, —  Francis  &  Co.     Cost,  $1,500. 


123d  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  Gulp's  Hill,  east  side  of  Slocum  Avenue,  ad- 
jacent to  breastworks. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  8'  o"  x  8'  o".    Total  height,  18'  2". 

Granite  statue  and  plinth  (seated  figure  of  History),  2'  3"  square  x  7'  o"  high. 
Bronze  letter  tablets  on  four  sides,  each  2'  2"  x  i'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Smith  Granite 
Company.     Sculptor, —  J.  G.  Hamilton.     Cost,  $4,000. 


124th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  east  side  of  Sickles  Avenue,  about  125  yards 
north  of  Devil's  Den. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  4'  5"  X  4'  5".    Total  height,  16'  2". 

Granite  statue  (Col.  A.  Van  Home  Ellis),  7'  o"  high. 

Bronze  letter  tablet  on  front,  2'  7"  x  3'  8" ;  on  reverse,  2'  4"  x  3'  4". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
St.  Johnsbury  (Vt.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractor  for  granite 
work, —  P.  B.  Laird;  for  bronze  work, —  Maurice  J.  Power.     Cost,  $2,714. 

This  regiment  has,  also,  a  monument  on  north  side  of  Pleasanton  Avenue. 
Cost,  $535. 


125th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: —  On  east  side  of  Hancock  Avenue,  about  40  yards 
north  of  Meade  Avenue. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1399 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  9'  o"  x6'  8".    Total  height,  11'  o". 
Bronze  inscription  tablet  on  reverse,  4'  6"  x  2'  5". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  Quincy  (Mass.)  granite. 
Contractors,— Frederick  &  Field.     Cost,  $1,810. 


126th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — East  side  of  Hancock  Avenue,  in  Ziegler's  Grove. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  8'  5"x7'  5".    Total  height,  16'  4". 

Bronze  medallion  of  Col.  Eliakim  Sherrill  on  front,  i'  8"  x  i'  10". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  3'  4"  x  2'  4". 
Bronze  letter  tablets  on  right  and  left  sides,  2'  4"  x  2'  4". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.     Sculptor, —  Caspar  Buberl.     Cost,  $2,500. 


WILLARD'S  BRIGADE, 
39th,  111th,  125th,  and  126th  New  York  Infantry. 
Location  of  Monument : —  On  east  side  of  Sickles  Avenue,  about  200  yards 
southerly  from  its  junction  with  the  Emmitsburg  Road. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  5'  o"  x  3'  o".     Total  height,  5'  6". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  front,  3'  i^"  x  2'  i J". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  Hallowell  (Me.)  granite 
and  Standard  bropze.     Contractor, —  C.  W.  Ziegler.     Cost,  $300. 


134th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument : —  On  East  Cemetery  Hill,  opposite  entrance  to  Na- 
tional Cemetery. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  8"  x6'  8".     Total  height,  15'  o". 

Crossed  bayonets,  cartridge  box,  knapsack,  and  blanket  in  bronze  on  front, 
of  natural  size. 


I400  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  Quincy  (Mass.)  granite 
and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.     Cost,  $1,500. 


136th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  west  side  of  Taneytown  Road,  about  225 
yards  south  of  junction  of  Hancock  Avenue  with  that  highway. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  6"  x  6'  6".    Total  height,  11'  o". 
Carved  finial,  2'  6"  x  2'  6"  x  5'  o"  high. 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


137th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  Gulp's  Hill,  between  Slocum  Avenue  and 
breastworks. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  5'  8"  x  5'  8".    Total  height,  15'  o". 

Crossed  muskets,  cartridge  box  and  laurel  wreath  on  front. 

Materials  of  Construction. 
First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite ;  the  remaining  parts,  Quincy  (Mass.)  granite 
and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


140th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  Little  Round  Top,  west  side  of  Sykes  Avenue, 
just  north  of  Monument  to  12th  and  44th  N.  Y.  Infantry. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  7'  o"  x  5'  8".    Total  height,  7'  3". 

Bronze  medallion  of  Col.  Patrick  O'Rorke  on  reverse,  2'  2"  in  diameter. 
Bronze  letter  tablets  on  right  and  left  sides,  each  i'  4"  x  2'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Smith  Gran- 
ite Company.     Sculptor, —  J.  G.  Hamilton.     Cost,  $1,500. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1401 

145th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  Slocum  Avenue,  between  the  Drive  and  breast- 
wrorks  on  Gulp's  Hill. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  o"  x  6'  o".    Total  height,  12'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Oak  Hill  (near  Belfast,  Me.)  granite.    Contractors,—  New  England  Monu- 
ment Company.      Cost,  $1,500. 


146th  NEW  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location   of  Monument: — Sykes   Avenue,   west   side,   northerly   crest  of 
Little  Round  Top. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  9'  6"  x  6'  6".    Total  height,  8'  4", 

Materials  of  Construction. 

First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  of  Quincy  (Mass.) 
granite.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


147th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  east  side  of  Reynolds  Avenue,  about  75  yards 
north  of  Railroad  Cut. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  7'  o"  x  7'  o".    Total  height,  15'  8". 

Bronze  knapsack,  canteen,  and  cartridge  box  grouped  together  in  front, 
measuring  (over  all)  2'  2"  wide  x  i'  8"  high. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  of  Quincy  (Mass.) 
granite  and  Standard  bronze.  Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.  Cost, 
$1,500. 


149th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument : —  On  Gulp's  Hill,  first  line  of  battle  adjacent  to 
breastworks  on  east  side  of  Slocum  Avenue. 


I402  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

General  Dimensions, 

Base,  5'  4"x4'  5".    Total  height,  11'  8". 

Bronze  bas  relief,  "  Mending  the  flag  under  fire,"  on  front,  2'  6"  x  2'  o". 

Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  6"  x  2'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Barre  (Vt.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Francis  &  Com- 
pany.    Artist, —  Edwin  Forbes.     Cost,  $1,500. 


150th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  Gulp's  Hill,  at  the  turn  of  Slocum  Avenue 
in  its  direction  along  the  line  of  position  of  Greene's  Brigade. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  10'  o"  x  10'  o".    Total  height,  23'  8". 

Bronze  letter  tablets  on  the  four  sides,  each  2'  o"  x  4'  9". 

Brigade  flag  in  bronze  on  reverse. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Van  Wyck  & 
Collins.    Sculptor, —  George  E.  Bissell.    Cost,  $4,400. 

The  Veteran  Association  of  this  regiment  has  placed  a  marker  on  Govern- 
ment Avenue,  near  the  Trostle  buildings. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  2'  8"  x  2'  8".    Total  height,  4'  o". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  front,  i'  o"  x  i'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Cost,  $100. 


154th  NEW  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument : —  On  Avenue  running  easterly  from  Stratton  Street, 
between  Water  and  Stevens  Streets,  Gettysburg. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  10"  x  6,'  10",     Total  height,  21'  2". 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1403 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


157th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  south  side  of  Howard  Avenue,  adjoining  west 
side  of  Carlisle  Road. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  6"  x  5'  9".    Total  height,  14'  2". 

Bronze  letter  tablet  on  front,  i'  9"  x  2'  i". 

Bronze  letter  tablets  on  right  and  left  sides,  each  i'  3"  x  i'  8". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Oak  Hill  (near  Belfast,  Me.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, — 
New  England  Monument  Company.    Cost,  $1,500. 


157th  new  YORK  INFANTRY. 

Location  of  Monument. —  This  monument,  erected  by  the  Regimental  Asso- 
ciation, is  located  on  the  south  side  of  Howard  Avenue,  near  its  junction  with 
the  Mummasburg  Road. 

General  Dimensions, 
Base,  6'  8"  x  4'  5".    Total  height,  6'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

First  base  of  Quincy  granite;  the  remaining  parts  of  Barre  (Vt.)  granite. 
Contractors, —  The  first  base  was  furnished  by  New  England  Monument  Com- 
pany; the  remaining  portion  of  monument  by  W.  G.  Potter.    Cost,  $900. 


1st  united  states  SHARPSHOOTERS. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  proposed  Confederate  Avenue,  about  800 
yards  north  from  highway  leading  from  the  -Peach  Orchard  in  a  westerly  di- 
rection towards  Fairfield. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  7'  3"  X  7'  3".    Total  height,  20'  6". 

Bronze  letter  tablets  on  reverse,  right  and  left  sides,  each  2'  3"  x  2'  6". 


1404  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Materials  of  Construction, 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, — Frederick  & 
Field.    Cost,  $1,750. 


15th  and  50th  new  YORK  ENGINEERS. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  Pleasanton  Avenue,  about  250  yards  east  of 
its  junction  with  Hancock  Avenue. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  14'  3"  X  4'  9".    Total  height,  12'  o". 

Bronze  relief,  pontoon  bridge,  on  front,  2'  o"  x  i'  4". 

Bronze  officer's  button,  two  in  number,  on  front,  each  8"  in  diameter. 

Bronze  letter  tablets  on  right  and  left  sides,  each  2'  o"  x   i'  5". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Sculptors, —  Beattie  &  Brooks.    Cost,  $3,000. 


2d  new  YORK  CAVALRY. 
Location  of  Monument: — Pleasanton  Avenue,  north  side. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  7'  o"  x  5'  4".    Total  height,  16'  o". 

Bronze  alto  relievo  of  horse's  head  on  face,  2'  7"  in  diameter. 

Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  6"  x  2'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  New  England 
Monument  Company.    Sculptor, —  Karl  Gerhardt.    Cost,  $1,500. 


4th  new  YORK  CAVALRY. 
Location  of  Monument : —  Pleasanton  Avenue,  north  side. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  7'  o"  x  5'  o".     Total  height,  14'  o". 

Bronze  alto  relievo  of  horse's  head  on  face,  2'  i "  x  2'  6J*. 

Bronze  sword  and  sash,  3'  4"  long. 

Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse.    2'  2"  x  2'  2". 


'  •        New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1405 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Concord  (N.  H.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  New  England 
Monument  Company.     Sculptor, —  E.  F.  Piatti.     Cost,  $1,500. 


5th  new  YORK  CAVALRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  hill  southwest  from  Round  Top,  about  290 
yards  southwesterly  from  Confederate  Avenue    crossing  of  Plum  Run. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  7'  6"  x  4'  o".    Total  height,  9'  5". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2!  10"  x  2'  4|". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite,  with  first  base  Gettysburg  granite,  and  Standard 
bronze.  Contractors, —  New  England  Monument  Company.  Sculptor, —  Cas- 
par Buberl.    Cost,  $1,500. 


6th  new  YORK  CAVALRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — East  side  of   Buford    Avenue,  about  400  yards 
southerly  from  its  junction  with  the  Mummasburg  Road. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  14'  o"  x  10'  o".    Total  height,  25'  9". 
Bronze  bas  relief  of  cavalry  charge  on  face,  6'  5"  x   5'  SJ". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  on  which  is  also  a  half  length  low  relief  of 
Gen.  Thomas  C.  Devin,  6'  4"  x  3'  11^". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Sculptor, —  James  E.  Kelly.    Cost,  $8,500. 


8th  new  YORK  CAVALRY. 

Location  of  Monument : —  Reynolds  Avenue,  east  side,  opposite  Reynolds 
Grove. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  9'  2"  X  5'  6".    Total  height,  10'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Barre  (Vt.)  granite.    Contractors, —  Smith  &  Barry.     Sculptor, —  F.  Muer. 
Cost,  $1,500. 


1406  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

9th  new  YORK  CAVALRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — East  side  of  Buford  Avenue,  about  2CX>  yards 
southerly  from  its  intersection  with  the  Mummasburg  Road. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  8'  6"  x  4'  7".    Total  height,  10'  7". 

Bronze  alto  relievo  of  mounted  cavalryman  on  f^ce,  5'  6"  x  5'  2^". 
Bronze  medallion  of  Col.  William  Sackett  on  reverse,  l'  9"  in  diameter. 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  i'  11"  x  5'  3". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

First  base  of  Quincy  (Mass.)  granite ;  the  remaining  parts  of  Hallowell  (Me.) 
granite  and  Standard  bronze.  Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.  Sciilptor, — 
Caspar  Buberl.    Cost,  $2,345. 


10th  new  YORK  CAVALRY. 

Location  of  Monument: — About  three  miles  east  of  Gettysburg,  on  the 
Hanover  Road. 


General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  o"  x  4'  6".    Total  height,  12'  o". 
Bronze  horse's  head,  i'  5"  x  2'  6"  x  3'  o"  high. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  New  England 
Monument  Company.     Sculptor, —  Caspar  Buberl.     Cost,  $1,500. 


BATTERY  B,  1st  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Location  of  Monument : —  On  west  side  of  Hancock  Avenue,  about  250 
yards  south  of  "  Clump  of  Trees." 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  8"  x  6'  8".    Total  height,  11'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite.    Contractors,—  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1407 


BATTERY  C,  1st  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  west  side  of  Sedgwick  Avenue,  about  150 
yards  north  of  its  intersection  witli  highway  leading  from  Taneytown  Road  to 
Emmitsburg  Road  past  the  Peach  Orchard. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  6'  o"  x  6'  o".    Total  height,  16'  3". 

t 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


BATTERY  D,  1st  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Location  of  Monument: — In  about  the  centre  of  the  Wheatfield,  between 
Sickles  Avenue  and  road  leading  from  Taneytown  Road  to  Emmitsburg  Road 
past  the  Peach  Orchard. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  8'  o"  x  5'  8".    Total  height,  11'  o". 

Battery  emblem,  in  bronze,  on  front,  guns,  3'  o"  long. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.  Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


BATTERY  E,  1st  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY, 
Location  of  Tablet: — On  East  Cemetery  Hill,  near  Baltimore  Pike. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  4'  3"  X  3'  3".    Total  height,  7'  8". 
Bronze  letter  plate,  2'  of"  x  2'  11". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Cost,  $500. 


BATTERY  G,  1st  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  east  side  of  Emmitsburg  Road,  in  the  "  Peach 
Orchard." 


i4o8  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

General  Dimensions, 

Base,  6'  4"  x  6'  4".    Total  height,  18'  4". 

Bronze  tablet  containing  crossed  cannon  and  corps  badges  on  face,  2'  i"  x 
I'  6". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  6"  x  i'  10". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


BATTERY  I,  1st  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 
Location  of  Monument : —  On  East  Cemetery  Hill,  north  of  Baltimore  Pike. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  2"  x  6'  2".    Total  height,  10'  4". 
Bronze  bas  relief  on  face,  2'  4f "  x  2'  4". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Barre  (Vt.)    granite  and    Standard    bronze.      Contractors, —  Lautz  &  Co. 
Sculptor, —  William  Lautz.    Cost,  $1,500. 


BATTERY  K,  1st  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Location  of  Monument : —  On  east  side  of  Hancock  Avenue,  near  intersection 
of  same  with  Pleasanton  Avenue. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  7'  o"  x  4'  6".    Total  height,  9'  o". 
Bronze  bas  relief  on  face,  4'  o"  x  3'  9". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  6"  x  2'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Sculptor, —  Stephen  J.  O'Kelley.     Cost,  $1500. 


BATTERY  L,  1st  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 
Location  of  Monument: — Reynolds  Avenue,  east  side,  near  Reynolds  Grove. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1409 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  9'  2"  X  6'  3".    Total  height,  11'  8". 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Barre  (Vt.)  granite.    Contractors, —  Smith  &  Barry.    Cost,  $i,S00. 


BATTERY  M,  1st  NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  westerly  slope  of  Powers'  Hill,  about  250  yards 
from  Baltimore  Pike. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  8'  o"  x  5'  8".    Total  height,  9'  4". 

Bronze  pattern  of  Parrott  gun,  5'  5"  long.     Bronze  projectiles  on  front  and 
reverse.     Crossed  sponges  and  rammers,  in  bronze,  on  front. 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


1st  new  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  west  side  of  Hancock  Avenue,  at  "  Clump  of 
Trees." 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  8'  8"  x  5'  6".    Total  height,  7'  2". 
Bronze  bas  relief  of  battery  in  action,  on  face,  4'  9"  x  i'  9". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  4'  9"  x  i'  9". 

Materials,  of  Construction. 

Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Smith  Granite 
Company.     Sculptor, —  J.  G.  Hamilton.     Cost,  $2,275. 


3d  NEW  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  east  side  of  Taneytown  Road,  adjoining  Na« 
tional  Cemetery. 

General  Dimensions. 
Base,  8'  o"  x  4'  10".    Total  height,  8'  o". 
Bronze  sponge  and  rammer.     Bronze  cannon  balls. 
,  89 


I4IO  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Westerly  (R,  I.)  granite.     Contractors, —  Smith  Granite  Company.     Cost, 
^1,500. 


4th  new  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  north    side  of   Sickles  Avenue,  adjacent  to 
"  Devil's  Den." 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  9"  x  6'  9".    Total  height,  12'  o". 
Bronze  statue  and  plinth,  2'  o"  x  2'  o"  x  6'  9*. 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  front,  2'  4"  x  i'  5^". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  2"  x  2'  6". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and    Standard    bronze.      Contractor, —  Maurice  J. 
Power.    Sculptor, —  Caspar  Buberl.    Cost,  $1,500. 


5th  new  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

Location  of  Monument: — In  Gettysburg  National  Cemetery,  near  the  Bal- 
itimore  Pike. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  8'  s"  x  6'  2".    Total  height,  8'  o". 

Twenty-pounder  Parrott  gun,  in  bronze,  half  natural  size,  on  plinth,  4'  7^"  x 
2'  4i",  2'  2"  high. 

Materials  of  Construction. 
First  base  of  Gettysburg  granite;  the  remaining  parts  of  Quincy  (Mass.) 
granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Frederick  &  Field.    Cost,  $1,500. 


6th  NEW  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

Location  of  Monument: — On  west  side  of  Taneytown  Road,  near  Meade's 
Headquarters. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  7'  3"  X  4'  8*.    Total  height,  8'  o". 

Bronze  bas  relief  of  battery  going  into  action,  4'  i^"  x  2'  y^". 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  i4ii 

Materials  of  Construction. 
Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.     Contractors,— Frederick  & 
Field.    Sculptors, —  Beattie  &.  Brooks.    Cost,  $1,500. 


10th  new  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

Tablet  situated  on  north  side  of  highway  leading  from  Peach  Orchard  near 
Sickles  Avenue. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  4'  3"  X  3'  3".    Total  height,  7'  8". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  front,  2'  6"  x  3'  o". 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Ma^s.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Cost,  $500. 


llTH  NEW  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

Location  of  Tablet: — Hancock  Avenue,  east  side,  70  yards  south  of  Meade 
Avenue. 

General  Dimensions. 


Base,  4'  3"  X  3'  3".    Total  height,  7'  8". 
Bronze  letter  tablet  on  front,  2'  o"  x  3'  o" 


Materials  of  Construction. 

Quincy  (Mass.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Frederick  & 
Field.    Cost,  $500. 


13th  new  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  south  side  of  Howard  Avenue,  about  130  yards 
west  of  the  Carlisle  Road. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  3"  x  6'  3".    Total  height,  14'  8". 

Bronze  half-section  three-inch  gun,  on  right  and  left  sides,  3'  7^"  long. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Smith  Granite 
Company.    Cost,  $1,500. 


I4I2  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


14th  new  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

This  battery  is  commepiorated  by  two  tablets  on  the  monument  to  the  63d, 
69th,  and  88th  New  York  Infantry  (Irish  Brigade).  One,  modelled  by  W. 
R.  O'Donovan,  sculptor,  represents  in  bas  relief,  a  battery  in  action.  This 
bronze  relifef  measures  3'  o"  x  i'  o".  The  other,  a  bronze  inscription  tablet, 
is  inserted  on  the  left  side  of  the  monument,  and  measures  3'  o"  x  i'  o".  Con- 
tractor,—  Maurice  J.  Power.  Cost,  $500,  which  is  included  in  the  price  for 
the  Irish  Brigade  monument. 


15th  NEW  YORK  INDEPENDENT  BATTERY. 

Location  of  Monument: —  On  highway  running  from  Peach  Orchard  to  Little 
Round  Top,  at  its  junction  with  Sickles  Avenue. 

General  Dimensions. 

Base,  6'  6"  x  3'  9".    Total  height,  7'  6". 

Bronze  letter  tablet  on  reverse,  2'  i^"  x  3'  ij". 

Figure  of  artilleryman,  5'  6"  high;  relief,  6|"  at  highest  point. 

Materials  of  Construction. 

Westerly  (R.  I.)  granite  and  Standard  bronze.    Contractors, —  Smith  Granite 
Company.    Sculptor, —  R.  D.  Barr.    Cost,  $1,500. 


FINAL  REPORT 


OF  THW 


New  York  Monuments  Commission 


FOB  THE 


BATTLEFIELD  OF  GETTYSBURG 


1899 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  141 5 


FINAL  REPORT  OF  THE  NEW  YORK  MONUMENTS  COMMISSION 
FOR  THE  BATTLEFIELD  OF  GETTYSBURG. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Governor  and  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York: 

Sirs. —  By  chapter  466,  Laws  of  1886,  passed  May  26th,  Daniel  E.  Sickles, 
Henry  W.  Slocum,  Joseph  B.  Carr,  Charles  A.  Richardson,  and  the  Adjutant 
General  of  this  State,  were  "  appointed  Commissioners  for  the  State  of  New 
York  to  determine  the  positions  and  movements  at  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg, 
of  the  several  military  organizations  of  this  State  that  took  part  in  that  battle, 
and  to  do  such  acts  relating  thereto  as  might  be  thereafter  required."  These 
commissioners  were  to  determine  such  positions  and  movements  by  means 
of  such  reports,  records,  maps  and  surveys  as  might  be  had,  and  by  such  other 
aids  and  means  as  they  might  judge  necessary  therefor;  and  report  their  pro- 
ceedings to  the  Legislature  at  its  next  session,  with  such  recommendations 
as  they  deemed  proper  to  secure  the  permanent  marking  of  the  movements  and 
positions  of  the  New  York  troops  on  the  Battlefield  of  Gettysburg. 

Pursuant  to  this  action,  the  first  meeting,  of  the  commissioners  was  held 
in  New  York,  at  the  residence  of  Maj.  (Jen.  D.  E.  Sickles,  June  16,  1886. 
General  Sickles  and  Major  Richardson  were  present.  General  Slocum  was 
absent  in  Europe;  General  Carr  was  detained  at  home  by  illness,  and  Adju- 
tant General  Porter  was  prevented  from  attending  by  reason  of  official  duties. 
Maj.  Geo.  W.  Cooney  was  selected  to  temporarily  assume  the  duties  of  secre- 
tary. It  was  decided  to  hold  the  next  meeting  at  Gettysburg,  on  the  ist,  2d 
and  3d  days  of  July,  1886. 

At  the  time  of  the  appointment  of  this  commission,  the  position  of  only 
one  New  York  regiment  had  been  marked  by  a  monument.  The  veteran 
organization  of  the  One  hundred  and  twenty-fourth  New  York  Infantry  had 
erected  a  monument  near  Devil's  Den,  on  the  line  occupied  by  the  regiment 
during  the  battle  of  the  2d  of  July,  1863,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  largely  subscribed 
by  friends  of  the  regiment  in  Orange  county.  The  dedication  ceremonies 
took  place  July  2,  1884,  the  twenty-first  anniversary  of  the  battle.  Survivors 
of  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-seventh  New  York  Infantry,  at  their  reunion 
held  at  Canastota,  September  19,  1884,  resolved:  "That  this  association  erect 
a  monument  to  commemorate  its  dead  who  fell  at  Gettysburg,  and  mark  the 
spot  where  they  fell,  July  i,  1863."  Work  upon  the  construction  of  this 
monument  was  begun  the  latter  part  of  July,  1886,  and  on  September  8th  of 
that  year  it  was  dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies.  The  cost  of  the  monu- 
ment was  about  $750,  and  at  a  later  date  a  base  was  added  at  an  expense  of  $150. 

The  commissioners  convened  at  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1886,  with  a  quorum 
present.  General  Sickles  was  elected  chairman  of  the  commission,  Gen. 
Charles  K.  Graham  was  appointed  engineer,  and  Maj.  George  W.  Cooney, 
secretary.  It  was  decided  that  a  committee  from  each  regiment  and  battery 
from  the  State  of  New  York  engaged  in  this  battle  should  be  invited  to  meet 


I4i6  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

•with  the  board,  at  such  times  as  should  be  thereafter  appointed,  and  the  secre- 
tary was  instructed  to  place  himself  in  communication  with  the  New  York 
veteran  regimental  organizations  as  soon  as  possible. 

Notices  having  been  sent  by  mail  to  officers  of  a  number  of  veteran  organi- 
zations throughout  the  State,  and  pubUshed  in  the  newspapers  of  the  State 
requesting  representatives  to  attend,  there  were  about  fifty  persons  assembled 
at  a  session  of  the  board  held  in  New  York  on  October  5,  1886.  The  repre- 
sentatives of  each  organization  present  stated  their  views  as  to  the  proper 
location  for  a  monument  to  its  command  and  as  to  the  accuracy  of  data  given 
by  maps  and  other  available  information.  As  a  result  of  this  conference,  the 
secretary  was  directed  to  transmit  circular  letters  to  the  officers  of  those 
commands  who  had  failed  to  attend,  and  to  further  request  members  of  the 
various  associations  to  forward  narratives  of  their  recollections  of  the  battle 
and  the  movements  of  the  regiments  and  batteries  on  their  front.  Notices 
of  the  next  assembling  of  the  board  were  again  published  in  the  newspapers. 
Delegations  from  some  of  the  organizations  not  present  at  the  meeting  on 
October  sth,  attended  that  held  on  the  14th  of  the  same  month,  and  indicated 
or  verified  their  positions  and  movements  on  the  Government  map.  The  com- 
mission decided  to  hold  its  next  session  at  Gettysburg,  and  the  secretary  was 
instructed  to  so  inform  all  persons  interested. 

In  the  meantime.  General  Graham,  the  engineer,  was  prosecuting  a  survey 
of  the  field,  and  on  October  27th,  the  commissioners,  with  invited  delegations 
of  survivors  of  a  number  of  New  York  commands,  went  over  the  battlefield, 
marking  positions  of  the  various  New  York  regiments  and  batteries,  along 
the  lines  of  battle.  A  map  of  the  field  was  prepared  shortly  thereafter  and 
the  selected  locations  for  monuments  were  indicated  thereon;  many  repre- 
sentatives examined  the  same,  and  all  expressed  great  interest  in  the  work 
and  ofifered  to  promote  the  efforts  of  the  commission  and  the  engineer  in 
accurately  establishing  the  movements  and  positions  of  the  New  York  troops 
engaged. 

The  board  convened  at  New  York  on  December  8,  1886,  when  the  map  of 
the  field,  submitted  by  the  engineer,  was  approved.  General  Graham  stating 
that  many  delegations  from  regimental  and  battery  organizations  had  called 
to  see  the  same  and  all  expressed  their  approbation.  The  secretary  was  in- 
structed to  communicate  with  the  authorities  of  the  States  which  had  erected 
monuments  on  the  field,  and  obtain  copies  of  acts  relating  thereto.  It  was 
decided  to  recommend  to  the  Legislature  an  appropriation  of  $1,500  for  each 
regimental  and  battery  monument ;  and  not  less  than  $50,000  for  a  State  monu- 
ment. General  Sickles,  at  this  med'ting,  was  authorized  to  prepare  a  report 
and  Major  Richardson  to  draft  a  bill  to  be  presented  to  the  Legislature,  em- 
bodying the  conclusions  of  the  commissioners. 

The  report  and  draft  of  bill  to  be  presented  to  the  Legislature  were  duly 
submitted  for  the  consideration  of  the  commissioners  at  meeting  held  in 
Albany  on  February  16,  1887.    The  report  prepared  by  the  chairman  and 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1417 

the  bill  drafted  by  Major  Richardson  were  read  and  adopted.  The  requisite 
number  of  copies  of  the  engineer's  map  of  the  battlefield  were  ordered  printed 
and  forwarded  to  the  several  regimental  and  battery  organizations  throughout 
the  State,  for  their  information. 

Besides  the  regimental  memorials,  marking  the  positions  where  New  York 
troops  fought,  it  was  suggested  in  the  report  that,  in  honor  of  the  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  State  of  New  York  who  fell  in  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg, 
many  of  whom  are  buried  on  the  field,  a  conspicuous  monument  should  be 
erected  by  the  State  of  New  York.  This  State  monument  would  testify  to 
unnumbered  generations  the  grateful  recognition  accorded  by  our  people,  in 
these  tranquil  and  prosperous  days,  to  those  who  sacrificed  all  they  could  give 
for  the  honor  and  welfare  of  the  Union. 

The  board  also  recommended  an  appropriation  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
curing necessary  lands  for  sites  for  the  monuments  and  avenues  leading  thereto. 
The  points  mentioned  in  the  report  upon  which  legislative  action  or  appro- 
priations were  desired,  were  embodied  in  the  draft  of  the  bill.  Engrossed 
copies  of  report  and  bill  were  at  once  forwarded  to  the  President  of  the  Senate 
and  to  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly.  It  being  announced  by  Senator  Raines 
that  a  joint  committee  of  both  Houses  would  give  the  commission  a  hearing 
on  the  evening  of  February  24th,  Generals  Sickles  and  Carr  appeared  at  that 
time,  reviewing  the  work  of  the  board  and  explaining  the  legislation  desired. 

This  act,  chapter  269,  became  effective  on  May  3,  1887,  and  on  the  6th  of 
the  same  month  a  committee  was  appointed  to  secure  title  to  the  lands  required 
for  suitable  sites  for  monuments,  as  provided  for  by  law.  The  secretary  was 
directed  to  notify  the  various  veteran  associations '  of  the  conditions  of  the 
law,  and  learn  if  they  had  designs  for  monuments  to  submit  for  the  considera- 
tion of  the  board.  A  committee  was  also  named  to  draft  rules  and  regulations 
for  the  guidance  of  regimental  and  battery  organizations  intending  to  erect 
monuments  on  the  field,  to  be  submitted  for  the  approval  of  the  commission. 

The  rules  and  regulations  prepared  by  the  committee,  in  accordance  with 
the  resolution  passed  at  the  last  session,  were  duly  approved  and  adopted 
June  22,  1887.  Regimental  and  battery  organizations  were  invited  to  submit 
designs  for  monuments.  The  survivors  of  regiments  and  batteries  which  had 
no  existing  organization  were  requested  to  organize.  The  rules  and  regu- 
lations set  forth  the  requirements  of  the  commission  respecting  the  identifica- 
tion of  the  associations  with  their  respective  regiments  and  batteries,  and 
outlined  the  policy  of  the  board  respecting  the  character  of  the  work  intended 
to  be  erected  under  their  supervision.  The  matter  of  inscriptions  was  also 
considered.  It  was  decided  to  refer  all  designs  to  the  engineer  for  his  exami- 
nation and  report.  The  satisfactory  prosecution  of  the  work  of  the  commis- 
sion may  be  attributed,  in  a  large  degree,  to  the  intelligent  foresight  displayed 
in  the  preparation  of  the  instructions,  rules  and  regulations  above  referred  to. 

At  the  meeting  held  the  following  day,  June  23,  1887,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  confer  with  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association, 


1418  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

with  reference  to  sections  i  and  5  of  chapter  269,  Laws  of  1887,  and  to  agree 
upon  a  plan  for  compliance  with  the  requirements  of  said  sections. 

The  engineer  was  requested  to  accompany  said  committee.  Shortly  after 
July  I,  1887,  General  Slocum,  Major  Richardson,  and  the  engineer  met  the 
members  of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association  to  arrange  with 
them  for  the  purchase  of  the  various  sites  to  be  occupied  by  monuments. 
After  considerable  discussion  the  contract  prepared  in  advance  by  Commis- 
sioner Richardson  was  executed  and  recorded  in  the  ofSce  of  the  recorder 
of  Adams  county,  Penn.,  and  filed  with  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Albany.  This 
agreement  is  dated  August  9,  1887. 

By  this  instrument,  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association  agreed 
to  dedicate  such  grounds  as  should  be  selected  and  determined  by  this  com- 
mission as  proper  sites  for  monuments,  to  the  memorial  purposes  for  which 
said  monuments  were  to  be  erected,  with  the  right  of  free  access  thereto  by 
the  public,  subject  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  memorial  association 
for  the  protection  and  preservation  of  said  grounds  and  the  monuments  to 
be  erected  thereon.  The  memorial  association  further  agreed  to  acquire  the 
right  to  such  grounds  as  they  did  not  own  or  control  and  which  were  needed 
as  sites  for  monuments;  the  acquirement  of  suitable  rights  of  way  were  also 
provided  for.  Just  and  proper  payments  or  reimbursements  for  the  expenses 
incurred  by  the  memorial  association  in  procuring  such  sites,  rights  of  way 
and  avenues  as  should  be  mutually  agreed  upon,  were  stipulated,  it  being  under- 
stood that  the  sum  which  should  be  paid  for  such  sites  and  avenues  and  rights 
of  way  for  our  monuments,  provided  for  by  chapter  269,  Laws  of  1887,  should 
not  exceed  the  sum  of  $10,000. 

During  the  summer  of  1887,  circulars  of  instructions  to  regiments  and  bat- 
tery organizations,  rules  and  regulations,  notices  to  contractors,  and  specifica- 
tions promulgated  by  the  commissioners  to  govern  the  construction  of  monu- 
ments, together  with  the  acts  of  the  Legislature  relating  to  the  work  of  the 
commission,  its  first  report  to  the  Legislature,  also  the  map  of  the  field  on 
which  locations  were  indicated,  were  printed  and  bound  together  in  pamphlet 
form  and  widely  distributed  to  those  interested. 

In  September,  1887,  the  chairman  commissioned  Caspar  Buberl,  a  sculptor, 
to  prepare  a  model  of  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  State  of  New  York;  and  the 
Henry-Bonnard  Bronze  Company  was  employed  to  cast  a  number  of  medal- 
lions, to  be  placed  on  monuments  erected  by  this  commission. 

Accurate  surveys  were  made,  during  the  latter  part  of  October  and  early 
in  November  of  the  same  year,  of  thirty  plats  of  ground  for  monument  sites, 
from  which  descriptions  were  drafted  to  be  inserted  in  a  deed  of  conveyance, 
transferring  these  plats  to  the  State  of  New  York  by  the  Gettysburg  Battle- 
field Memorial  Association  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  agreement.  This 
indenture  is  dated  March  28,  1888,  and  entered  for  record  in  the  register's 
office  of  Adams  county,  Penn.,  April  3,  1888. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1419 

Designs  for  a  number  of  monuments  were  presented  and  inscriptions  sub- 
mitted by  representatives  of  regiments  of  infantry,  cavalry  and  batteries  of 
artillery,  at  a  meeting  of  the  board  held  on  December  7,  1887.  These  designs 
had  been  previously  inspected  by  a  subcommittee  of  the  board  and  the  engi- 
neer; changes  were  recommended  by  them,  whenever  deemed  necessary  for 
artistic  effect  or  substantial  work.  Designs,  with  the  subcommittee's  report, 
were  also  considered  by  the  board  at  sessions  held  February  i,  1888,  April  10, 
1888,  and  May  5,  1888,  which  resulted  in  the  awarding  of  contracts  for  a  large 
number  of  monuments  to  be  constructed  during  that  year.  The  determination 
of  the  board  to  put  in  more  substantial  foundations  than  had  been  customary 
upon  the  field,  gave  the  work  of  the  commission,  at  the  start,  much  prominence 
and  brought  to  it  favorable  consideration.  These  foundations  were  built 
solidly  of  stone  not  less  than  six  (6)  superficial  feet  and  at  least  ten  inches 
in  thickness,  and  thoroughly  bonded  in  Portland  cement  mortar,  capped  by  a 
substantial  and  well-dressed  water  table,  projecting  above  the  surface  of  the 
ground. 

Each  regiment  and  battery  organization,  as  a  general  rule,  elected  to  have 
a  distinct  monument;  in  several  instances,  however,  two  or  more  formed  a 
society  representing  the  combined  associations,  thus  uniting  their  respective 
appropriations  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  one  monument  of  a  more  attractive 
character.  Instances  of  this  are  those  of  the  Twelfth  and  Forty-fourth  New 
York  Infantry,  the  Seventy-eighth  and  One  hundred  and  second  New  York 
Infantry,  the  Sixty-third,  Sixty-ninth,  and  Eighty-eighth  New  York  Infantry 
(Irish  Brigade),  the  Seventieth,  Seventy-first,  Seventy-second,  Seventy-third, 
and  Seventy-fourth  New  York  Infantry  (Sickles'  Excelsior  Brigade).  Most 
of  the  monuments  on  the  field  were  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,500,  the  limit  of 
the  State  appropriation  for  each  organization.  A  number  of  organizations, 
however,  added  materially  to  the  State  appropriation,  and  in  this  way  were 
able  to  secure  more  imposing  monuments.  Many  of  the  monuments  were 
completed  before  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  battle,  and  were  then 
dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies. 

The  commissioners  convened  July  3,  1888,  at  Gettysburg.  Several  designs 
were  received  and  acted  upon.  The  engineer  was  instructed  to  collect  neces- 
sary material  for  the  preparation  of  a  final  report,  such  material  to  consist  of 
brief  accounts  of  the  operations  of  the  various  New  York  regiments  and 
batteries  which  participated  in  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  derived  from  the 
official  reports  of  the  respective  officers  in  command,  and  from  other  data  of 
reliable  character,  placed  at  his  disposal  by  the  various  organizations.  He 
was  likewise  directed  to  prepare  brief  biographical  sketches  of  the  distin- 
guished officers  from  this  State  who  took  part  in  the  battle,  so  that  with  the 
illustrations  of  the  monuments  the  work  might  be  of  interest  to  the  people 
of  the  State  and  of  value  to  the  historian.  The  commissioners  attended  a 
number  of  the  dedicatory  cerenlonies  during  the  time  of  their  presence  at 
Gettysburg,  in  July,  1888. 


I420  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  commissioners  visited  the  battlefield  in  October,  1888,  and  convened 
there  in  formal  session  on  October  3d.  It  was  resolved  that  the  commission 
go  to  Washington  at  an  early  date,  and  request  permission  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment to  erect  a  State  monument  within  the  National  Cemetery  grounds. 

Major  Richardson  moved  that  the  names  of  artists,  designers,  sculptors 
and  bronze  founders  should  not  hereafter  appear  upon  any  design,  reproduc- 
tion, or  emblem  attached  to  a  monument  or  constituting  a  part  thereof,  except 
in  an  inconspicuous  place,  approved  by  the  commissioners  or  their  engineer, 
upon  the  base  or  support  of  a  portrait  or  other  work  of  art,  which  shall  be  the 
original  conception  of  such  artist,  designer  and  sculptor.  This  motion  was 
adopted. 

The  board  received,  October  10,  1888,  a  delegation  from  the  Fourth  New 
York  Independent  Battery,  who  questioned  the  location  selected  for  the  monu- 
ment to  this  command.  The  officers  of  the  battery  were  requested  to  call  a 
meeting  of  the  association,  and  submit  their  views  to  the  commission  to  enable 
it  to  decide  the  question. 

A  general  review  of  the  principal  features  of  the  work  performed  during 
the  Season  of  1888  shows  that  thirty-two  plats  of  land  were  surveyed  during 
that  period;  diagrams  were  made  from  the  data  obtained  and  deed  of  transfer 
prepared  in  duplicate,  by  which  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Associa- 
tion conveyed  the  use  and  occupation  of  these  lands  to  the  State  of  New  York. 
This  conveyance  was  recorded  March  22,  1889,  in  the  recorder's  office  of 
Adams  county,  Penn.,  and  the  original  filed  with  the  Secretary  of  State  of  New 
York. 

The  State  having  authorized  an  appropriation  of  $50,000  for  the  erection 
of  a  State  monument,  much  attention  was  given  by  the  commissioners  to  the 
subject  of  its  location,  and  during  their  frequent  visits  to  the  battlefield  they 
inspected  and  passed  upon  all  the  sites  which  were  deemed  to  be  desirable. 
It  was  finally  concluded  to  make  application  for  a  site  in  the  National  Ceme- 
tery, situated  south  of  the  rostrum,  at  a  point  where  a  small  summer  house 
stands.  The  wishes  of  the  board  were  stated  in  the  following  communication 
to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army.  The  reply  of  the  Quartermaster  General, 
iUnited  States  Army,  follows  the  chairman's  letter : 

New  York,  November  13,  1888. 
To  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  Washington,  D.  C: 

General. —  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit,  herewith  inclosed,  a  resolution  which  was 
adopted  by  the  New  York  commissioners  for  the  erection  of  monuments  at  Gettysburg, 
at  a  meeting  held  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  on  the  3d  day  of  October  last,  and  to  which  I 
respectfully  invite  your  consideration.    The  resolution  is  as  follows: 

"Resolved,  That  the  chairman  of  the  commission  is  requested  to  address  a  communi- 
cation to  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  War,  asking  permission  to  erect  the  monument  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  which  is  designed  to  be  devoted  to  the  memory  of  the  dead  of  that 
State  who  are  buried  in  the  National  and  Evergreen  Cemeteries  at  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
on  the  plot  of  ground  indicated  on  a  diagram  which  shall  accompany  his  communication, 
to  be  prepared  by  the  engineer  of  the  commission." 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1421 

The  State  of  New  York  is  the  first  State  which  has  made  an  appropriation  for  the 
erection  of  a  State  monument  to  its  dead  who  are  buried  on  the  battlefield,  and  the 
commission  believe  that  the  most  appropriate  place  for  its  location  is  in  the  National 
Cemetery,  at  the  place  shown  on  the  accompanying  diagram. 

New  York  was  represented  on  the  Battlefield  of  Gettysburg  by  sixty-eight  commands 
of  infantry,  nine  commands  of  cavalry,  seventeen  batteries  of  artillery,  and  two  regiments 
of  engineers,  aggregating  ninety-six  organizations. 

No  State  suffered  more  in  that  sanguinary  conflict  than  New  York,  as  is  shown  by 
the  fact  that  eight  hundred  and  sixty-five  of  its  dead  now  rest  in  the  National  and  thirteen 
in  the  Evergreen  Cemetery,  the  actual  loss  of  the  State  being  six  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  seventy-seven  officers  and  men,  out  of  a  totaj  loss  sustained  by  the  eighteen  Sta.tes 
represented  in  that  battle  of  twenty-three  thousariti  one  hundred  and  ninety  officers  and 
enlisted  men,  being  nearly  thirty  per  cent  of  the  entire  loss  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
on  the  1st,  2d  and  3d  days  of  July,  1863. 

The  State  of  New  York  has  appropriated  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  this  monument. 
If  the  structure  be  erected  within  the  boundaries  of  the  National  Cemetery,  it  will  have 
the  benefit  of  the  supervision  of  the  custodian  of  the  cemetery  appointed  by  the  Secretary 
of  War. 

The  site  preferred  by  the  commissioners  is  indicated  on  the  inclosed  diagram  by  a 
circle,  in  pink. 

If  any  further  information  is  desired,  the  engineer  of  the  commission,  General  Charles 
K.  Graham,  will  go  to  Washington  at  any  time  and  confer  with  the  Quartermaster  Gen- 
eral or  other  officer  of  the  War  Department  on  the  subject  of  this  communication. 

Very  respectfully, 
(sgd)  D.  E.  SICKLES, 

Maj.  Gen.,  U.  S.  A.  (Ret.),  Chairman. 

Washington,  D.  C,  Nov.  24,  1888. 
Maj.  Gen.  D.  E.  Sickles,  U.  S.  A.  (Retired), 

Chairman  Board  of  Commissioners,  Gettysburg  Monuments,  New  York  City: 
General. —  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your  communication  of  the 
13th  inst.,  forwarded  to  this  office  by  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army,  transmitting  copy 
of  resolution  adopted  by  the  N.  Y.  Board  of  Commissioners  for  the  erection  of  monu- 
ments at  Gettysburg,  requesting  that  permission  be  granted  by  the  Hon.  Secretary  of 
War,  for  the  erection  in  the  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  National  Cemetery,  on.  the  plot  of  ground 
indicated  on  the  accompanying  diagram,  of  "  The  Monument  of  the  State  of  New  York 
to  the  memory  of  the  Dead  of  that  State  who  are  buried  in  the  National  and  Evergreen 
Cemeteries  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,"  and  to  respectfully  inform  you  that  as  it  appears  from  the 
plot  of  the  cemetery  that  the  location  of  the  proposed  monument  will  not  interfere  with 
any  of  the  graves,  curbing  or  headstones  therein,  your  request  has  been  approved  by  the 
Honorable  Secretary  of  War. 

Very  respectfully. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

(sgd)  S.  B.  HOLABIRD, 

Q.  M.  Gen.,  U.  S.  A. 

The  foregoing  correspondence  was  read  when  the  commissioners  next 
assembled,  December  12,  1888,  and  it  was  resolved  "that  the  chairman  be 
instructed  to  express  the  thanks  of  the  commissioners  to  the  honorable  Secre- 
tary of  War  for  the  grant  of  land  for  a  site  for  the  State  memorial  in  the 
National  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  and  cause  to  be  filed  in  the  office  of 
the  Secretary  of  the  State  a  copy  of  the  map  on  file  in  the  War  Department, 


1422  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

showing  location  and  dimensions  of  such  grant  to  the  State  of  New  York, 
the  same  to  be  accompanied  by  a  copy  of  the  correspondence  relating  thereto." 
By  the  same  resolution,  the  engineer  was  directed  to  mark,  by  suitable  stakes, 
the  site  of  the  monument. 

Generals  Woo'd  and  Faulkner  appeared  before  the  commission  at  their 
meeting  December  12,  1888,  in  reference  to  the  location  of  the  One  hundred 
and  thirty-sixth  New  York  Infantry  monument,  which  they  stated  was  errone- 
ous. The  conditions  appertaining  to  the  location  of  the  monument,  the  move- 
ments of  the  regiment,  and  what  the  olficers  considered  the  correct  site,  were 
fully  reviewed,  from  which  it  appeared  that  an  unaccountable  change  in  posi- 
tion of  the  stakes  placed  by  regimental  officers  was  responsible  for  the  errone- 
ous location.  The  board  authorized  the  removal  desired,  whenever  the  neces- 
sary funds  were  available. 

The  request  in  writing  of  the  Third  New  York  Battery  Association  for  a 
change  of  position  of  their  monument  was  also  presented,  and  it  was  ordered 
that  the  organization  be  informed  that  the  expense  of  such  change  would  have 
to  be  defrayed  by  the  battery  association. 

General  Carr  and  Major  Richardson  were  appointed,  at  the  session  on  fore- 
going date,  to  attend  the  Legislature  with  reference  to  the  appropriations 
required  by  the  commission  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  engineer's  report  of 
the  executive  work  of  the  commission  for  the  second  year  of  its  active  opera- 
tions was  also  submitted  at  this  meeting  and  ordered  on  file. 

The  commissioners'  report  to  the  Legislature,  dated  January  15,  1889, 
reviewed  the  work  done  during  the  past  year,  and,  with  other  matters,  con- 
tained the  following: 

"The  undersigned  would  respectfully  suggest  to  the  Legislature,  in  view 
of  the  universal  interest  shown  in  the  Battlefield  of  Gettysburg,  that  a  joint 
resolution  be  passed  requesting  our  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress 
to  favor  and  promote  the  passage  of  an  act  enabling  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  to  acquire  and  own  that  battlefield,  and  that  it  may  be  made  a 
military  post,  which  shall  include  the  whole  battlefield  among  its  dependencies, 
so  that  all  its  topographical  features  may  be  preserved  and  the  numerous  monu- 
ments erected  may  be  always  properly  guarded  and  protected;  and  that  such 
post  may  be  garrisoned  by  at  least  one  company  of  artillery,  with  its  proper 
equipment  of  guns. 

"  And  to  this  end,  the  undersigned  respectfully  submit  herewith  a  draft  of 
the  proposed  joint  resolution : 

JOINT  RESOLUTION  requesting  the  Senators  and  Representatives  of  the 
State  of  New  York  in  Congress  to  promote  the  passage  of  an  act  enabling 
the  Government  of  the  United  States  to  establish  a  military  post  at  Gettys- 
burg, which  shall  include  the  battlefield  among  its  dependencies. 
Whereas,  The  Battlefield  of  Gettysburg  has  been  chosen  by  the  regiments 

and  batteries  of  many  States  as  the  site  for  several  hundreds  of  monuments 

commemorating  their  services  on  that  field  and  in  the  war  for  the  preservation 

of  the  Union;  and. 

Whereas,  Eighteen  States  have  made  appropriations  aiding  the  erection  of 

such  monuments;  and, 
Whereas,  This  battlefield  is  commonly  recognized  as  the  scene  of  the  decisive 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1423 

conflict  between  the  opposing  forces  in  the  war  for  the  mafntenance  of  the 
Union;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Senators  and  Representatives  of  the  State  of  New  York 
in  Congress  be  and  they  are  hereby  requested  to  promote  the  passage  of  an 
act  enabling  the  Government  of  the  United  States  to  estabUsh  a  military  post 
at  Gettysburg,  which  shall  include  the  battlefield  among  its  dependencies,  so 
that  all  of  its  topographical  features  may  remain  unimpaired  and  the  numerous 
monuments  erected  there  may  be  always  properly  guarded  and  preserved ;  and 
that  provision  be  made  in  said  act  for  garrisoning  such  military  post  by  at 
least  one  company  of  artillery,  with  its  appropriate  equipment,  to  the  end  that 
the  morning  and  evening  gun  may  forever  salute  the  Flag  and  the  Union  of 
the  United  States,  which  were  so  heroically  defended  and  consecrated  on  that 
memorable  ground." 

Reverting  to  the  subject  of  acquirement  of  the  site  for  the  State  monument, 
the  correspondence  hereinbefore  given  was  again  brought  to  the  attention 
of  the  War  Department  in  the  following  letter  from  the  chairman  addressed 
to  the  Quartermaster  General,  United  States  Army: 

New  York,  December  22,  1888. 
General. —  Referring  to  your  communication  of  November  24th,  ultimo,  informing  me 
that  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  War  has  approved  the  application  made  on  behalf  of 
the  State  of  New  York  for  leave  to  erect  the  State  Monument  in  the  National  Cemetery 
at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  I  have  the  honor  to  request  that  an  officer  be  designated  with  author- 
ity to  meet  General  Chas.  K.  Graham,  Engineer  of  this  Commission,  at  Gettysburg,  and 
stake  out  the  ground  indicated  in  the  diagram  accompanying  my  letter  of  Nov.  13,  ultimo, 
as  suitable  for  the  New  York  State  Monument. 

As  it  is  proposed  to  make  our  monument  a  handsome  structure  to  which  visitors  will 
be  attracted,  allow  me  to  suggest  that  it  would  be  desirable  to  indicate  a  suitable  path  or 
road  leading  to  and  from  the  plat  designated  for  the  monument. 

General  Graham  will  hold  himself  in  readiness  to  meet  the  officer  designated,  either 
at  Gettysburg,  or  Washington,  or  New  York,  at  any  convenient  date. 

.Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(sgd)     D.  E.  SICKLES, 
Major  General,  U.  S.  A.  (Retire^, 

Chairman, 
To  Brigadier  General  Samuel  B.  Holabird, 

Quarter  Master  General,  U.  S,  A.,  Washington,  D.  C.  1 

This  communication  elicited  the  following  responses : 

Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.  3,  1889. 
Maj.  Gen.  D.  E.  Sickles,  U.  S.  A.  (Retired), 

Chairman  New  York  Board  of  Commissioners,  Gettysburg  Monuments, 

No.  23  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City: 

General. —  Referring  to  your  communication  of  the  22nd  ultimo.,  relative  to  monu- 
ment to  be  erected  by  the  State  of  New  York,  in  the  National  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg, 
Pa.,  with  request  that  an  officer  be  designated  with  authority  to  meet  Gen.  Charles 
K.  Graham,  engineer  of  the  commission,  and  stake  out  the  ground;  by  direction  of  the 
Quartermaster  General,  you  are  respectfully  informed  that  Lieut.  Col.  G.  B.  Dandy, 
Deputy  Qr.  Master  Genera],  U.  S.  A.  Depot  Qr.  Master,  Washington,  D.  C,  has  been 
instructed  to  confer  with  General  Graham,  as  requested. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(sgd)       C.  G.  SAWTELLE, 

Depy.  Qr.  Mr.  Gen.,  U.  S.  A. 


1424  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Depot  Quartermaster's  Office, 

Washington,  D.  C,  Ian.  5,  1S89. 
Major  General  Charles  K.  Graham, 

Engineer  of  Beard  of  Commissioners  Gettysburg  Monuments: 
General. —  The  Quartermaster  General  having  designated  me  to  meet  and  confer 
with  you  in  relation  to  staking  out  the  ground  at  the  Gettysburg  National  Cemetery,  for 
the  New  York  State  monument,  etc.,  will  you  please  inform  me  when  and  where  such 
a  meeting  will  be  convenient  to  you. 

If  you  desire  me  to  meet  you  at  Gettysburg,  please  give  me  a  few  days'  notice  in 
advance. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(sgd)        G.  B.  DANDY, 
Depy.  Qr.  Mr.  General,  U.  S.  A., 
Depot  Quartermaster. 

General  Graham  being  ill,  his  assistant,  Mr.  A.  J.  Zabriskie,  was  directed 
to  proceed  to  Washington  and  confer  with  General  Dandy  upon  the  subject, 
which  resulted  in  an  official  acceptance  of  the  location  referred  to  in  the  fore- 
going correspondence  and  described  in  the  following  communication: 

Depot  Quartermaster's  Office, 

Washington,  D.  C,  Jan.  21,  1889, 
Mr.  A.  J.  Zabriskie, 

Assistant  to  General  C.  K.  Graham, 

Engineer  of  New  York  Board  of  Commissioners  Gettysburg  Monuments: 
Sir. —  You  are  respectfully  informed  that  the  Quartermaster  General  has  approved 
my  recommendation  in  respect  to  a  site  in  the  Gettysburg  National  Cemetery  for  the 
soldiers'  monument  to  be  erected  by  the  New  York  Board  of  Commissioners,  as  fol- 
lows, viz.: 

"  That  the  site  as  located  by  yourself  and  the  civil  engineer  detached  by  this  office 
to  assist  you,  which  site  is  shown  in  the  tracing  made  by  the  said  civil  engineer  (W.  H. 
Owen,  Esq.)  be  fixed  as  the  authorized  site  for  the  monument. 

"  From  the  center  as  located  on  the  ground  by  an  iron  pin  (see  tracing)  a  circle  of 
go  feet,  and  in  case  of  necessity,  100  feet  in  diameter  will  be  described  for  the  monument 
and  grass  plat  surrounding  it. 

"  Around  this  circle  a  twenty-foot  road  is  to  be  described  and  established.  All  grad- 
ing and  all  work  in  connection  with  the  structure  to  be  done  at  the  expense  of  the 
monument  association. 

"  The  grounds  of  the  cemetery  to  be  left  by  the  association  in  as  good  order  as  at  the 
commencement  of  the  work.  A  plan  of  the  structure  is  to  be  furnished  this  office  before 
the  ground  is  broken  for  the  work,  and  the  commencement  of  the  foundation  to  be 
supervised  by  the  undersigned  or  by  any  agent  or  engineer  appointed  by  him  or  by  the 
Quartermaster  General  of  the  Army." 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(sgd)  G.  B.  DANDY, 

Dep.  Qr.  Mr.  Gen.,  U.  S.  A., 

Depot  Quartermaster. 

Very  shortly  thereafter  the  chairman  received  a  communication  from  the 
Quartermaster  General,  United  States  Army,  dated  February  2,  1889,  inform- 
ing him  that,  by  direction  of  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War,  further  action 
in  the  matter  was  suspended  for  the  present.  The  text  of  this  letter 
follows : 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1425 

War  Department,  Quartermaster  General's  Office, 
Washington,  D.  C,  February  2,  1889. 
MaJ.  Gen.  D.  E.  Sickles,  U.  S.  A.  (Retired), 

Chairman  New  York  Board  of  Commissioners,  Gettysburg  Monuments, 

23  Fifth  Avenue.,  New  York  City: 
General. —  Referring  to  letter  from  this  office  dated  the  3d  ultimo,  relative  to  the 
monument  to  be  erected  by  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  National  Cemetery  at  Gettys- 
burg, Pa.,  and  stating  that  Lieut.  Col.  G.  B.  Dandy,  Deputy  Q.  M.  General,  U.  S.  A., 
Depot  Q.  M.,  this  city,  has  been  instructed  to  confer  with  General  C.  K.  Graham, 
engineer  of  the  commission,  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that,  by  direction  of  the 
honorable  Secretary  of  War,  further  action  in  the  matter  is  suspended  for  the  present 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(signed)        S.  B.  HOLABIRD, 

Quartermaster  General,  U.  S.  Army. 

'K  meeting  of  the  board  took  place  on  February  26,  1889.  The  annual 
report  of  the  commission  was  read  and  approved  and  several  designs  con- 
sidered. The  next  session  of  commissioners  was  held  in  Albany,  March  12, 
1889,  when,  among  other  matters  taken  up,  there  was  read  a  communication 
from  Mr.  John  B.  Bachelder,  asking  the  assistance  of  the  board  towards 
obtaining  an  appropriation  to  erect  a  tablet  at  the  "  Copse  of  Trees  "  on 
Hancock  avenue,  on  the  Gettysburg  field.  The  request  received  due  con- 
sideration, and  it  was  decided  to  refer  the  matter  to  the  chairman,  with  in- 
structions to  draft  and  forward  a  reply  thereto. 

Gen.  Charles  K.  Graham,  the  engineer  of  this  commission,  died  April  15, 
1889,  and  at  the  board  meeting,  May  7,  1889,  the  following  action  was  taken : 

"  Resolved,  That  with  a  sense  of  profound  sorrow  the  commissioners  recog- 
nize in  the  death  of  Bvt.  Maj.  Gen.  Charles  K.  Graham  the  irreparable  loss 
of  one  who  has,  since  the  organization  of  this  commission,  served  as  the  engi- 
neer, bringing  to  the  ofiSce  and  the  performance  of  its  different  duties  not  only 
eminent  scientific  attainments,  practical  experience,  untiring  industry,  and  an 
unquestioned  integrity,  but,  especially,  a  patriotic  devotion  to  its  work  and  a 
fervent  zeal  in  its  execution,  always  considering  the  trust  reposed  in  him  a 
sacred  one,  and  ever  zealous  to  preserve  the  honor  and  reputation  of  the 
commission,  spotless,  like  his  own.  The  commissioners  mourn  the  loss  of  a 
gallant  soldier,  who  rendered  his  country,  in  her  hour  of  trial,  distinguished 
services  in  the  field,  and  of  a  citizen,  who  served  with  equal  fidelity  in  every 
position  of  trust  and  responsibility  held  by  him ;  but  more  especially  does  each 
member  of  this  commission  mourn  the  personal  loss  of  a  tried  comrade  and 
true  friend. 

"  Resolved,  That  this  resolution  be  entered  upon  the  minutes  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  commission  and  a  copy  thereof  transmitted  to  the  relatives  of 
the  deceased.    Adopted." 

On  May  7,  1889,  A.  J.  Zabriskie  was  appointed  engineer  of  this  commis- 
sion, to  date  from  the  day  of  the  death  of  Gen.  Charles  K.  Graham.  A  number 
of  designs  were  considered.  Active  operations,  under  the  direction  of  this 
commission,  were  resumed  on  the  field,  April  25,  1889. 

Notwithstanding  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  matter  of  a  site  in  the 
National  Cemetery  for  the  State  monument,  the  chairman  expressed  the  belief 


1426  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

that  a  satisfactory  site  would  be  ultimately  secured,  and,  therefore,  recom- 
mended to  the  board  on  July  19,  1889,  that  the  preliminary  work  of  procuring 
an  appropriate  design  be  proceeded  with.  A  resolution  was  accordingly 
adopted  inviting  designs  for  the  State  monument,  for  which  the  sum  of  $50,000 
had  been  appropriated.  This  resolution  was  embodied  in  the  form  of  a  cir- 
cular, and  mailed  to  a  large  number  of  architects,  sculptors  and  contractors ; 
further  publicity  was  secured  by  the  insertion  of  an  advertisement  in  two 
technical  journals. 

The  board,  on  September  11,  1889,  extended  the  time  for  reception  of 
designs  for  the  State  monument,  invited  in  circular  above  mentioned,  to 
November  13,  1889,  and  the  engineer  was  directed  to  send  notices  to  that 
efifect  to  all  architects,  sculptors  and  contractors  to  whom  circulars  had  been 
mailed,  or  who  had  made  inquiries  in  answer  to  advertisements.  This  meeting 
of  commissioners  was  held  at  Gettysburg.  Colonel  Bachelder  was  given  a 
hearing  on  the  matter  of  tablet  at  the  "  Copse  of  Trees,"  and  was  informed 
by  the  chairman  that  the  commission  had  considered  the  matter  and  he  had 
been  advised,  in  writing,  that  this  board  could  not  recommend  the  legislation 
desired.  A  number  of  designs  for  monuments  were  examined  by  the  com- 
missioners. General  Wood  appeared  before  the  board  and  stated  that  the 
survivors  of  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-sixth  Regiment  had  been  unable  to 
raise  the  required  sum  of  money  to  remove  the  monument  of  that  command 
to  the  desired  location.  The  engineer  was  directed  to  ascertain  the  cost  thereof 
and  the  chairman  was  authorized  to  cause  the  removal  and  to  pay  therefor 
out  of  such  moneys  as  might  be  available. 

The  wrappings  of  the  fourteen  designs  for  a  State  monument,  submitted 
by  thirteen  competitors,  in  response  to  circular  promulgated  July  19,  1889, 
were  opened  by  the  secretary  in  the  presence  of  commissioners  present  at  a 
meeting  held  November  20,  1889.  The  drawings  were  critically  examined; 
action  was  deferred  for  the  present.  On  December  4,  1889,  the  designs  were 
again  inspected,  and  received  careful  study  and  consideration  by  the  board. 
On  the  15th  of  January  following,  the  commissioners  appeared  in  an  informal 
manner  before  the  Senate  committee ,  on  finance  and  the  ways  and  means 
committee  of  the  Assembly  at  Albany,  when  the  project  for  a  State  monu- 
ment at  Gettysburg  and  the  progress  thus  far  made  was  reviewed  by  General 
Sickles,  and  the  several  designs,  placed  on  exhibition  for  this  occasion  in  the 
Assembly  parlor,  explained.  Contractors  estimated  the  cost  of  a  structure 
based  on  these  plans,  which  embraced  a  monument  and  memorial  hall  with  a 
lookout  at  the  top  to  view  the  battlefield,  at  $170,000.  The  plans  were  again 
exhibited  on  March  12,  1890,  to  the  proper  committees  of  the  Legislature, 
and  a  bill  drawn  authorizing  the  commissioners  to  enter  into  a  contract  for 
a  monument  to  cost  the  above-mentioned  sum,  which  was  introduced  in  the 
House  of  Assembly  two  days  later  and  referred  to  the  ways  and  means  com- 
mittee, before  whom  the  board  appeared,  but  were  unable  to  procure  favorable 
action  thereon.    The  board  thereupon  decided  that  the  plans  submitted  were 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1427 

not  satisfactory,  and  instructed  the  engineer  to  prepare  a  design  embodying 
the  views  of  the  commissioners. 

Twenty-two  monuments,  representing  twenty-seven  organizations,  were 
erected  on  the  field  during  the  year  1889,  at  a  cost  to  the  State  of  $40,500, 
and  to  the  veteran  organizations  of  $12,750.  In  other  words,  the  associations 
raised  among  themselves  and  their  friends  about  twenty-five  per  cent,  of  the 
total  cost  of  the  monuments  erected  during  the  year,  a  fact  very  encouraging 
to  the  commissioners,  for  it  exhibited  great  interest  in  the  work  by  those  who 
took  part  in  the  battle.  Fifteen  additioinal  plots  of  ground  were  surveyed, 
plotted,  and  diagrams  prepared  therefrom ;  the  usual  form  of  deed,  embracing 
these  plots,  was  executed  July  11,  1890. 

A  communication  was  laid  before  the  board  on  March  12,  1890,  from  the 
One  hundred  and  twenty-fourth  New  York  Infantry  Veteran  Association 
expressing  a  desire  to  transfer  the  care  and  ownership  of  their  monument  — 
erected  by  the  organization  —  to  the  State  of  New  York,  so  that  the  monu- 
ment might  receive  the  same  supervision  and  protection  as  those  erected 
under  the  direction  of  this  commission.  Accompanying  the  application  was 
a  report  from  the  engineer,  setting  forth  the  alterations  and  additions  neces- 
sary to  make  the  monument  conform  to  the  rules  and  specifications  of  the 
board. 

Maj.  George  W.  Cooney,  secretary  of  the  commission  from  its  organization, 
having  tendered  his  resignation  to  the  chairman  in  a  communication  dated 
February  28,  1890,  his  letter  was  laid  before  the  board  at  their  meeting  on 
March  12th  following,  and,  on  motion,  was  accepted.  Designs  were  received 
for  monuments  to  the  Twelfth  and  Forty-fourth,  Eighty-second,  One  hundred 
and  forty-ninth  and  One  hundred  and  fifty-seventh  New  York  Infantry.  Those 
of  the  Eighty-second  and  One  hundred  and  fifty-seventh  New  York  Infantry 
were  approved,  and  that  for  the  Twelfth  and  Forty-fourth  was  accepted  as  to 
its  general  outline,  subject  to  the  action  of  the  two  associations  uniting  in  an 
application  for  a  joint  monument. 

At  meeting  held  June  17,  1890,  a  letter  was  read  from  the  secretary  of  the 
Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association,  referring  to  the  request  received 
by  the  engineer  of  this  commission  to  suspend  work,  for  the  present,  on 
monument  to  the  One  hundred  and  eleventh  New  York  Infantry,  by  reason 
of  the  numerous  and  earnest  protests  against  the  site  selected.  General 
MacDougall,  president  of  the  One  hundred  and  eleventh  Infantry  Veteran 
Association,  and  Major  Myers  and  Captain  Murdock,  of  the  locating  com- 
mittee who  selected  the  site,  being  in  attendance,  were  given  a  hearing.  The 
remonstrance  was  referred  to  General  MacDougall,  to  make  a  full  report  of 
the  facts  to  the  chairman  of  this  board,  who  was  authorized,  upon  receipt  of 
the  report,  to  forward  to  the  battlefield  association  such  reply  as  the  facts 
warranted. 

The  recommendations  of  the  Forty-fourth  Infantry  upon  the  matter  of 
inscriptions  for  the  Twelfth  and  Forty-fourth  monument  were  considered. 


1428  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

The  board  directed  that  concurrent  action  be  first  secured  from  the  veteran 
association  of  the  Twelfth  Infantry. 

It  was  also  decided  that  that  portion  of  inscription  upon  the  die  of  monu- 
ment to  the  One  hundred  and  twenty-fourth  Regiment,  New  York  Infantry, 
cut  in  sunken  letters,  giving  names  of  those  killed  in  the  battle,  remain  as  at 
present,  and  that  the  other  changes  and  additions  shall  be  made  as  proposed 
in  engineer's  report  submitted  at  previous  meeting ;  the  broken  granite  sword 
to  be  replaced  by  one  in  bronze. 

The  request  of  the  One  hundred  and  fifty-seventh  New  York  Infantry 
organization,  to  place  the  monument,  about  to  be  erected  to  that  command  at 
the  point  to  which  they  charged  on  the  ist  of  July,  having  been  objected  to 
by  Colonel  Buehler,  vice-president  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Associa- 
tion, as  not  in  accordance  with  the  rules  of  the  battlefield  association,  the 
engineer  was  directed  to  place  the  monument  in  battle  line  on  Howard  avenue, 
near  the  Carlisle  Road. 

Plans  for  the  monument  to  the  Sixth  Independent  New  York  Battery  were 
submitted  and  accepted. 

The  engineer  was  instructed  to  proceed  with  removal  of  the  monument 
of  the  One  hundred  and  thirty-sixth  Regiment  of  New  York  Infantry,  pur- 
suant to  action  taken  by  board,  December  12,  1888,  and  to  procure  estimates 
for  the  removal  of  monument  to  Fifth  New  York  Cavalry  to  its  correct  posi- 
tion—  as  determined  by  the  commissioners  —  adjacent  to  that  designated 
for  Elder's  Battery. 

A  protest  against  any  change  of  location  of  monument  to  Fourth  New  York 
Independent  Battery  was  read  and  referred  to  Captain  Smith,  of  said  battery. 
Arrangements  were  made  at  this  meeting  (June  17,  1890)  for  grading  and 
sodding  around  New  York  monuments. 

The  application  of  the  veteran  associations  of  the  Twelfth  and  Forty-fourth 
New  York  Infantry  for  a  joint  monument  was  placed  on  file. 

The  question  of  a  suitable  design  for  State  monument  was  again  taken  up 
and  discussed  by  the  board,  June  26,  1890,  and  the  engineer  instructed  to  have 
one  prepared  on  a  basis  of  cost  of  $50,000,  the  plans  to  follow  the  general 
outline  of  design  embodying  the  ideas  of  the  commissioners,  recently  pre- 
pared by  Mr.  Caspar  Buberl. 

A  committee,  consisting  of  General  Carr  and  Major  Richardson,  was  ap- 
pointed to  make  an  inspection,  in  connection  with  the  engineer,  of  all  monu- 
ments erected  by  the  State  on  the  field. 

The  board,  at  their  meeting  July  10,  1890,  extended  the  time  for  the  pre- 
sentation of  a  design  for  the  One  hundred  and  forty-ninth  New  York  Infantry 
monument,  at  the  request  of  the  veteran  association  of  that  command. 

The  work  of  grading  and  sodding  around  New  York  monuments  was 
awarded  to  Mr.  N.  G.  Wilson,  superintendent  of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield 
Memorial  Association. 

Two  designs  for  the  State  monument  were  presented  at  the  meeting  by 
the  engineer,  and  estimates  for  granite  work  handed  in.    After  careful  ex- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1429 

amination  of  both  designs,  the  board  selected  one  of  them  and  instructed  the 
engineer  to  submit  to  the  board  at  its  next  meeting  such  further  details  as 
might  be  necessary  to  complete  said  design  —  omitting  the  work  shown  above 
the  capital  —  and  such  estimates  giving  the  cost  in  New  York  granite  and 
standard  bronze,  as  might  be  necessary  to  enable  the  board  to  determine  the 
cost  of  erecting  a  monument  in  accordance  with  such  plans  and  specifications 
and  the  time  required  to  do  the  work. 

The  design  for  the  Ninety-fifth  New  York  Infantry  monument  was  accepted 
with  certain  alterations. 

The  contested  matter  of  location  of  the  One  hundred  and  eleventh  New 
York  Infantry  monument  was  again  taken  up  at  meeting,  August  28,  1890. 
The  report  of  General  MacDougaJl,  accompanied  by  documentary  evidence, 
was  presented.  After  a  careful  study  of  the  questions  involved,  it  was  agreed 
to  ask  the  battlefield  memorial  association  to  grant  the  site  desired  by  the 
veteran  organization. 

The  designs  for  tablets  to  Battery  E,  Tenth,  and  Eleventh  New  York  Inde- 
pendent Batteries  were  accepted. 

The  engineer  submitted  propolis  from  various  bidders  on  design  for  State 
monument,  which  were  carefully  examined  and  discussed.  Final  action  was 
deferred. 

The  next  meeting  was  held  at  Washington,  September  11,  1890.  Routine 
matters  relating  to  the  One  hundred  and  twenty-fourth  New  York  Infantry 
were  disposed  of.  The  proposals  for  granite  work  for  the  State  monument 
were  again  taken  up  and  it  was  decided  that,  in  view  of  the  board's  desire  to 
use  New  York  granite,  if  practicable,  the  contract  be  awarded  to  the  Ausable 
Granite  Works  of  Keeseville,  N.  Y.  The  forms  of  specifications  and  agree- 
ment for  the  granite  work  were  approved. 

The  proposal  of  Mr.  Caspar  Buberl  to  furnish  the  models  for  the  alto» 
relief  panels  on  the  State  monument  was  accepted  and  the  engineer  directed 
to  prepare  the  necessary  contract  and  specifications. 

The  committee  to  examine  monuments,  appointed  at  last  meeting,  submitted 
a  report. 

As  the  commissioners  were,  at  this  period,  in  a  position  to  furnish  exact 
plans  to  the  War  Department,  showing  precisely  the  character  of  the  structure 
it  was  intended  to  erect  upon  the  site  for  a  State  monument  in  the  National 
Cemetery,  granted  some  time  before  but  afterwards  suspended  by  order  of 
the  Honorable  Secretary  of  War  on  account  of  protests  by  certain  parties, 
application  was  renewed  on  September  15,  1890,  for  permission  to  erect  the 
monument  in  accordance  with  the  adopted  design.  The  following  communica- 
tion was  accompanied  by  all  of  the  correspondence,  photographs,  maps,  etc., 

bearing  upon  the  case : 

Sept.  IS,  1890. 
To  the  Adjutant  General,  U.  S.  Army,  Washington,  D.  C: 

General. —  Referring  to  the  severaj  communications,  copies  of  which  are  herewith 
inclosed,  I  have  the  honor  to  renew  the  request  heretofore  made  in  behalf  of  the  State 


1430  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

of  New  York,  for  permission  to  erect  a  monument  in  the  National  Cemetery  at  Gettys- 
burg, Pa.,  in  memory  of  about  twelve  hundred  of  our  dead  who  are  buried  there. 

The  accompanying  tracing  shows  the  proposed  location  of  the  New  York  monument, 
and  the  relative  positions  of  the  several  batteries  whose  organizations  either  have  placed, 
or  propose  to  place,  markers  in  that  part  of  the  cemetery. 

The  permission  to  erect  a  monument,  given  to  this  board  in  the  letter  of  the  Quarter- 
master General,  dated  Nov.  24,  1888  (copy  inclosed),  was  suspended  to  enable  the  War 
Department  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  the  space  given  to  us  woujd  interfere  with  the 
erection  of  suitable  markers  to  indicate  the  positions  of  these  batteries. 

Two  of  them,  Hall's  2d  Maine  Battery,  and  McCartney's  Mass.  Battery,  are  dready 
placed. 

The  impression  was  erroneously  made  by  certain  parties  that  the  l^ew  York  monu- 
ment would  cover  a  much  larger  space  than  was  ever  contemplated,  and  hence  the 
representations  which  caused  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War  to  suspend  the  permission 
given  us. 

The  most  conspicuous  remonstrance  came  from  Hall's  Battery,  which  is  now  perfectly 
satisfied.     No  objection  has  been  received  by  this  board  except  from  Hajl. 

With  the  information  now  before  the  War  Department,  and  in  view  of  the  ample 
time  given  for  any  further  remonstrances,  it  is  believed  that  the  approval  of  our  request 
heretofore  conveyed  in  the  letter  of  General  Holabird,  dated  Nov.  24,  1888,  may  be 
reaffirmed  without  prejudice  to  anybody. 

Our  engineer,  Mr.  A.  J.  Zabriskie,  is  instructed  to  repair  to  Washington,  or  to  Gettys- 
burg, to  afford  information  to  any  officer  designate'd  to  take  charge  of  this  matter. 

Very  respectfully, 

(sgd)        D.  E.  SICKLES, 
Maj.  Gen.,  U.  S.  A.,  Chairman, 

Prior  to  date  of  foregoing  communication,  an  extended  correspondence 
passed  between  Captain  Hall,  of  the  Second  Maine  Battery,  who  was  a  pro- 
testing party,  and  the  chairman  of  this  commission,  which  resulted  in  an 
amicable  agreement  upon  site  for  marker  to  that  battery,  which  did  not  inter- 
fere in  any  way  with  the  contemplated  position  of  the  New  York  State  monu- 
ment. No  response  having  been  received  from  the  War  Department  to  the 
letter  of  General  Sickles,  dated  September  15,  1890,  he  directed  the  engineer 
to  proceed  to  Washington  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  delay.  It  was  learned 
that  another  protest  had  been  filed  with  the  Secretary  of  War.  The  chairman 
accordingly,  on  November  6th,  transmitted  the  following  letter  to  the  War 
Department : 

November  6,  1890. 
To  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  Army: 

Sir. —  I  have  the  honor  to  state,  referring  to  the  communication  recently  addressed 
to  you  by  me- in  reference  to  the  proposed  site  for  the  New  York  State  monument  at 
Gettysburg,  that  I  am  informed  by  our  engineer,  Mr.  Zabriskie,  who  had  an  interview 
yesterday  with  Gen.  Grant,  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  War,  that  a  protest  had  been 
received  from  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  against  allowing  the  State  of  New  York 
the  privilege  of  erecting  a  oionument  in  the  cemetery  of  Gettysburg  to  the  New  York 
dead,  who  are  buried  in  the  cemetery.  Among  the  known  and  unknown  dead  in  the 
cemetery,  more  than  a  thousand  belong  to  New  York  troops,  and  by  section  6  of  chapter 
269  of  the  New  York  Laws  of  1887,  the  board  of  commissioners  I  represent  are  directed 
to  cause  to  be  erected  "  a  suitable  memorial  structure  to  the  memory  of  the  officers  and 
soldiers  of  the  State  of  New  York  who  fell  on  the  Battlefield  of  Gettysburg,  and  said 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1431 

memorial  structure  and  an  appropriate  inscription  thereon  shall  especially  relate  to  the 
New  Yorlc  soldiers  who  are  buried  in  the  National  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg." 

It  appears  to  our  board,  and  this  view  is  respectfully  submitted  to  the  honorable 
Secretary  of  War,  that  nothing  would  be  more  appropriate  than  the  designation  for  this 
purpose  of  a  special  site  in  the  cemetery.  Our  board,  in  choosing  the  site  indicated  in 
the  diagram  we  have  submitted,  were  prompted  by  a  desire  to  avoid  the  least  interference 
with  the  admirable  arrangement  of  the  headstones  and  monuments  in  the  cemetery  proper. 
In  order  to  avoid  marring  the  symmetry  of  the  admirable  work  done  in  the  cemetery, 
we  chose  a  site  for  our  column  as  remote  as  possible  from  that  portion  of  the  cemetery 
already  used.  We  were  likewise  careful  not  to  interfere  in  any  manner  with  the  battery 
monuments  erected,  or  proposed  to  be  erected,  in  that  portion  of  the  cemetery,  in 
memory  of  the  batteries  which  were  in  position  there. 

I  understand  it  is  suggested  by  Governor  Beaver,  in  his  communication,  that  the 
ground  asked  for  in  behalf  of  the  State  of  New  York  may  possibly  be  needed  at  some 
future  day  for  a  statue  or  a  monument  to  Major  General  Meade.  While  nothing  could 
be  further  from  our  wishes  than  to  interfere  in  the  slightest  degree  with  such  a  work,  I 
beg  leave  to  suggest  that  there  would  be  ample  space  left  in  the  cemetery  for  the 
memorial  to  General  Meade,  if  it  should  be  determined  to  place  a  memorial  there  in 
his  memory;  but  as  the  General's  remains  are  interred  elsewhere,  it  would  seem  more 
appropriate  that  any  statue  or  memorial  in  hisi  honor  should  be  on  the  battlefield  itself, 
with  which  his  memory  and  fame  are  inseparably  associated,  while  there  is  a  peculiar 
propriety  in  placing  New  York's  memorial  in  the  cemetery  where  her  sons  are  buried. 

Moreover,  New  York  is  prepared  now  to  proceed  at  once  in  the  erection  of  her 
monument.  The  appropriation  is  made;  the  plans  are  adopted  after  mature  consideration, 
and  we  only  wait  the  sanction  of  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War  in  allowing  us  to  place  it 
on  the  site  shown  in  the  diagram  submitted.  On  the  other  hand,  we  are  not  informed  that 
any  definite  steps  whatever  have  been  taken  to  erect  a  monument  to  General  Meade  at 
Gettysburg,  either  on  the  battlefield  or  in  the  cemetery.  This  may  happen  and  it  may 
not,  and  in  this  relation  it  is  not  unworthy  of  notice  that  the  numerous  monuments 
erected  at  Gettysburg  are  almost  exclusively  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  the  soldiers 
who  took  part  in  this  battle.  Of  these,  about  four  hundred  have  already  been  erected. 
In  erecting  a  monument  to  her  dead  who  are  buried  in  the  cemetery.  New  York  only 
follows  the  general  current  of  popular  feeling  which  has  consecrated  this  battlefield  to 
the  memory  of  the  brave  men  who  fought  there;  and  it  is  respectfully  submitted  that 
these  considerations,  reinforced  by  others  which  will  occur  to  the  honorable  Secretary 
of  War  in  considering  the  subject,  will  satisfy  him  that  our  request,  which  has  been  for 
some  time  awaiting  his  action,  should  be  granted. 

I  may  observe  in  conclusion  that  our  request  for  the  site  indicated  was  first  presented 
to  the  late  Secretary  of  War,  Mr.  Endicott,  and  after  a  careful  examination  by  the 
Quartermaster  General,  was,  on  his  recommendation,  approved  by  Secretary  Endicott. 
Action  was,  however,  suspended  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War  in  consequence  of  a 
protest  signed  by  several  New  England  senators,  who  were  made  to  believe  that  our 
proposed  site  would  interfere  with  the  battery  monuments  proposed  to  be  erected  in  the 
cemetery.  This  objection  was  shown,  upon  investigation,  to  be  without  foundation,  and 
we  have  confidently  expected,  in  view  of  this  circumstance,  that  our  application,  when 
renewed,  would  be  granted.  Acting  on  this  expectation,  which  we  regarded  as  a  reason- 
able one,  our  monument  has  been  designed  with  a  special  reference  to  the  site  contem- 
plated, always  an  important  consideration  with  architects. 

Very  respectfully, 

(sgd)        D.  E.  SICKLES, 
Maj.  Gen.    U.  S.  A.  {Retired), 

Chairman. 

The  honorable  Secretary  of  War  answered  the  foregoing  communication 
by  giving  the  names  of  other  protestants  and  stating  that  he  "  does  not  feel 


1432  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

inclined  to  grant  the  authority  asked  for."  He  proposed  to  appoint  "  a  com- 
mission to  meet  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  to  examine  fully  into  the  subject,  hear 
all  parties,  and  report  the  result." 

On  December  3,  1890,  the  commission  reconsidered  and  rescinded  a  reso- 
lution passed  at  a  previous  meeting,  awarding  the  contract  to  the  Ausable 
Granite  Works  for  granite  work  of  State  monument.  The  correspondence  and 
all  matters  relating  to  the  question  of  site  for  that  monument  were  next  taken 
up,  and,  after  a  full  review  of  the  matter,  the  chairman  was  authorized  to  with- 
draw the  application  of  the  board  for  a  site  in  the  National  Cemetery  for  the 
New  York  monument,  made  November  13,  1888,  setting  forth  in  his  com- 
munication the  reasons  why  said  application  was  made  and  why  the  board 
would  not  desire  to  press  the  application  in  the  face  of  official  opposition. 
The  following  statement  of  the  chairman  was  transmitted  to  the  honorable 
Secretary  of  War,  in  accordance  with  the  above  instructions: 

December  26,  1890. 
Hon.  Redfield  Proctor, 

Secretary  of  War,  Washington,  D.  C: 

Sir. —  Referring  to  the  application  heretofore  made  to  the  War  Department,  on  behalf 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  for  permission  to  erect  a  monument  in  the  National  Cemetery 
at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  to  the  memory  of  the  New  York  soldiers  buried  in  the  cemetery;  and 
to  your  letter  of  the  12th  ultimo  (Exhibit  "A"),  stating  that  "  Protests  have  been  received 
from  the  honorables  H.  W.  Blair,  W.  E.  Chandler,  W.  P.  Frye,  Eugene  Hale,  H.  L. 
Dawes,  and  Geo.  F.  Hoar;  also  from  Hon.  James  A.  Beaver,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  president  of  the  battlefield  association,  David  Wills,  ex-president  of  the  association, 
and  others,  against  the  erection  of  the  proposed  monument;  and  that  in  view  of  the 
opposition  thereto,  the  Secretary  of  War  does  not  feel  inclined  to  grant  the  authority 
asked  for;"  I  have  the  honor  to  reply  that  your  letter  was  read  and  respectfully  con- 
sidered by  this  board  of  commissioners  at  their  December  meeting;  and  I  am  directed 
to  acknowledge  the  courtesy  of  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War  in  offering  to  "  appoint 
a  commission  to  meet  at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  to  examine  fully  into  the  subject,  hear  all 
parties,  and  report  the  result." 

I  am  also  instructed  to  state  that  this  board  would  not  desire,  in  the  face  of  opposi- 
tion from  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  Senators  Blair,  Chandler,  Hale,  Dawes, 
Frye,  and  Hoar,  to  press  the  application  made  on  behalf  of  State  of  New  York. 

General  Beaver,  in  his  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  September  25,  1890, 
written,  as  he  points  out,  as  "  the  President  of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial 
Association,"  a  copy  of  which  he  has  kindly  sent  to  this  board  in  compliance  with  its 
request  (Exhibit  "  B  "),  regards  the  proposed  New  York  monument  as  "  a  memorial  to 
the  troops  from  the  State  of  New  York; "  and  he  believes  it  would  be  improper  to  grant 
our  application  because  "  the  position  selected  for  the  erection  of  this  memorial  would 
seriously  interfere  with  the  present  arrangement  of  the  cemetery,  and  would  have  no 
significance  historically  for  the  reason,"  that  "  New  York  troops  did  not  occupy  the 
locality  where  it  is  proposed  to  erect  the  memorial;"  and  that  "  the  general  design  of 
the  cemetery,  and  the  plans  of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association,  which 
have  been  based  on  well-considered  principles,  would  seem  to  be  so  completely  over- 
turned by  the  granting  of  this  request;"  and  in  view  of  these  considerations  General 
Beaver  suggests  that  "the  subject  be  referred  to  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial 
Association  for  an  expression  of  their  views." 

To  these  representations  of  General  Beaver   the  undersigned  respectfully  answers: 

That  the  proposed  New  York  monument  is  not  a  memorial  to  the  New  York  troops 
engaged  in  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg;  it  is  a  monument  to  the  soldiers  of  New  York 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1433 

who  are  buried  in  the  National  Cemetery  and  who  were  killed  in  the  battle,  about  a 
thousand  in  number;  that  the  proposed  monument,  so  far  from  interfering  with  the 
design  and  purpose  of  the  cemetery,  is  in  strict  conformity  with  its  objects,  as  will 
appear  from  the  documents  herewith  transmitted,  and  referred  to  in  the  observations 
made  on  page  4  touching  the  protest  of  Judge  Wills;  that  it  is  not  claimed  that  New 
York  troops  occupied  any  portion  of  the  cemetery  grounds,  nor  that  any  "  historical 
significance"  is  attached  to  the  site  we  have  chosen  in  the  cemetery;  and  with  reference 
to  representations  on  this  subject  made  in  behajf  of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Associa- 
tion, it  is  only  necessary  to  refer  to  the  following  resolution  of  the  executive  committee 
of  that  body,  adopted  December  6,  i8go: 

"  Resolved,  That  official  notices  be  sent  to  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War,  and  the 
New  York  Board  of  Commissioners  on  Gettysburg  Monuments,  that  all  protests  filed 
with  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War  against  the  erection  of  the  proposed  State  monu- 
ment by  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  Gettysburg  National  Cemetery  by  any  member 
or  members  of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association  are  made  by  them 
individually,  without  the  sanction  or  authority  of  this  association,  and  must  not  be  con- 
sidered as  having  such  sanction  or  authority. 

This  association  has  taken  no  official  action  in  the  matter  whatever  and  is  opposed 
to  the  use  of  its  name,  in  an  official  manner,  for  any  such  purpose."  , 

Touching  the  protest  of  the  New  England  Senators,  its  object  was  to  secure  ground 
in  the  cemetery  desired  by  certain  battery  organizations  belonging  to  their  respective 
States,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  monuments  thereon  to  these  batteries;  it  having  been 
erroneously  represented  to  the  honorable  Senators  above  mentioned  that  the  site  chosen 
for  the  New  York  monument  included  the  ground  in  the  cemetery  desired  for  these 
battery  monuments.  These  monuments  are  already  erected,  or  the  positions  for  them 
are  so  defined  and  marked  as  to  show  that  they  are  not  within  the  Jines  indicated  for  the 
site  of  the  New  York  monument 

It  remains  only  to  notice  the  protest  of  David  Wills,  described  as  "  Ex-President  " 
of  the  battlefield  association.  Judge  Wills  was  never  president,  nor  even  a  member  of 
the  battlefield  association.  He  was  president  of  the  Soldiers'  National  Cemetery  Com- 
missioners, incorporated  by  Pennsylvania,  March  25,  1864.  (Copy  of  act  of  incorporai- 
tion  annexed.  Exhibit  "  D.")  These  commissioners  subsequently,  in  May,  1872,  trans- 
ferred the  cemetery  to  the  War  Department,  with  the  sanction  of  the  States  which  had 
given  large  sums  of  money  to  i^tablish  and  maintain  it.  New  York  having  contributed 
the  largest  sum  given  by  any  State. 

(A  copy  of  the  supplementary  act  of  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  "  Providing  for 
ceding  said  cemetery  to  the  United  States,"  approved  ApriJ  14,  1868,  is  annexed.  Exhibit 
"E";  also  copy  of  the  resolution  adopted  by  the  "Board  of  Managers  of  the  Soldiers' 
National  Cemetery,"  June  22,  1871,  authorizing  -President  Wills  to  make  the  transfer, 
Exhibit  "  F.") 

Judge  Wills'  letter  to  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War  (Exhibit  "  G  ")  is  obviously 
founded  on  a  misapprehension  of  the  character  and  purpose  of  the  proposed  New  York 
monument.  He  protests,  in  the  name  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  (by  what  authority, 
does  not  appear),  against  the  use  and  occupation  of  any  portion  of  the  cemetery  by  the 
military  organizations  of  any  particular  State  for  memoriaj  structures.  His  protest  would, 
therefore,  seem  to  be  directed  against  the  erection  of  the  battery  monuments  proposed 
to  be  erected  by  the  New  England  artillery  organizations,  in  whose  behalf  the  New 
England  senators  addressed  the  Department.  These  applications,  however,  are  under- 
stood to  have  been  already  granted.  New  York  has  erected  monuments  on  the  battlefield 
to  all  her  military  organizations  that  took  part  in  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg.  Judge  Wiljs 
does  not  seem  to  understand  that  New  York  now  desires  a  site  in  the  cemetery  for  a 
monument  to  her  soldiers  who  fell  in  the  battle,  and  who  are  buried  in  the  cemetery. 

If  Judge  Wills  had  remembered  the  documentary  history  of  the  cemetery,  to  which 
he  refers  in  his  letter  to  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War,  he  would  have  seen  that  the 


1434  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

application  of  this  board  on  behalf  of  the  State  of  New  York,  is  precisely  within  the 
declared  scope  and  purpose  of  the  founders  of  the  cemetery;  and  that  the  use  he  proposes 
shall  be  made  "  of  a  summit  in  the  cemetery  grounds,"  to-wit,  a  site  for  a  monument  to 
distinguished  military  commanders,  however  commendable,  ''  would  be  a  misuse  of  the 
trust "  for  which  the  cemetery  grounds  were  conveyed  to  the  United  States.  This  will 
be  clearly  shown  by  a  brief  reference  to  the  origin  and  object  of  "  the  Soldiers'  National 
Cemetery  "  Association,  of  which  Judge  Wills  was  president. 

That  association,  from  which  the  United  States  derived  its  title  to  the  present  National 
Cemetery  at  Gettysburg,  was  incorporated  by  Pennsylvania  in  1864.  The  land  for  the 
cemetery  is  declared  by  section  I  of  the  act  of  incorporation  (Exhibit  "  D  ")  to  be  held 
"  in  trust  for  all  the  States  having  soldiers  buried  in  said  grounds;  ''  and  it  is  further  declared 
that  "  the  said  grounds  shajl  be  devoted  in  perpetuity  to  the  purpose  for  which  they  were 
purchased,  namely,  for  the  burial  and  place  of  final  rest  of  the  remains  of  the  soldiers  who 
fell  in  defense  of  the  Union,  in  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg."  (Section  i.  Exhibit  "  D.")  And 
to  erect  "  a  monument  or  monuments,  and  suitable  marks  to  designate  the  graves,  and 
generally  do  all  other  things,  in  their  judgment  necessary  and  proper  to  be  done  for  which  it  has 
been  purchased  and  set  apart."     (Section  3,  Exhibit  "  D.") 

Eighteen  commissioners,  representing  eighteen  loyal  States,  were  appointed  to  lay 
out  the  grounds  and  remove  and  bury  the  dead,  the  State  of  New  York,  contributing 
$26,072.86  for  these  purposes,  considerable  more  than  was  given  by  any  other  State. 
(See  Exhibit  "  H.")  The  cemetery  association  was  likewise  authorized  by  section  10 
of  the  act  (Exhibit  "  D  ")  to  receive  appropriations  from  the  United  States,  from  the 
States,  and  by  bequests  or  gifts,  for  "  the  burial  of  the  dead,"  ornamenting  the  grounds 
and  maintaining  the  same,  and  to  "  erect  a  monument  or  monuments  therein." 

In  1868,  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  authorized  the  conveyance  of  the  cemetery,  so  held 
by  it  in  trust  for  the  several  States  which  had  contributed  to  its  establishment,  to  the 
Government  of  the  United  States,  on  condition  that  the  United  States  accepted  the  care 
and  management  of  the  cemetery  in  accordance  with  the  objects  of  the  trust.  (See 
Exhibit  "  E.") 

The  transfer  was  made  by  Judge  Wills,  in  behalf  of  the  commissioners,  in  1872, 
pursuant  to  the  authority  given  him  by  the  "  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Soldiers'  National 
Cemetery,"  (see  Exhibit  "  F  "),  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  and  with  the  approval 
of  the  States  interested  as  cestui  que  trust.  1 

From  this  recital,  it  appears  that  the  National  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg  is  held  by  the 
United  States  in  trust  for  the  several  States  which  established  the  cemetery;  for  the 
burial  of  the  dead  who  fell  in  the  Gettysburg  campaign;  for  the  erection  of  a  monument 
or  monuments  to  their  memory;  for  the  supervision  and  care  of  the  graves  and  monu- 
ments and  grounds;  and  for  no  other  purposes  whatever. 

It  would  seem,  therefore,  that  Judge  Wills,  in  framing  his  protest  against  allowing 
the  State  of  New  York  to  honor  its  dead  by  the  erection  of  a  monument  to  them  in 
the  National  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg,  must  have  forgotten  the  purposes  of  the  cemetery 
organization  of  which  he  was  president;  and  he,  besides,  overlooked  the  terms  and  con- 
ditions of  the  trust  transferred  by  him  to  the  United  States,  since  it  distinctly  appears  by 
the  records,  to  which  reference  is  now  made,  that  the  permission  asked  for  on  behalf  of 
the  State  of  New  York  is  in  strict  conformity  with  the  declared  object  of  the  trust 
created  by  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  for  the  benefit  of  her  sister  States,  and  afterwards 
transferred  to  and  accepted  by  the  United  States. 

The  monument  to  the  lamented  Reynolds,  the  monuments  to  the  ist  Mass.  Battery,  the 
5th  New  York  Battery,  Battery  "  H,"  1st  Ohio  Artillery,  and  7Sth  Pennsylvania  Infantry, 
as  well  as  the  proposed  monuments  to  the  New  England  batteries  and  to  Gen.  Meade,  are 
all  graceful  and  appropriate  commemorations  of  patriotic  services;  but  it  cannot  be  said 
that  they  are  monuments  to  soldiers  who  are  buried  in  the  cemetery.  Whether  or  not  it 
is  consistent  with  the  trust  held  by  the  War  Department  to  permit  the  erection  of  any 
monument  in  the  cemetery  other  than  such  as  are  consecrated  to  the  memory  of  the 
soldiers  who  are  buried  in  the  cemetery,  is  not  a  question  that  need  be  discussed  in  this 


_  New  York  at  Gettysburg.  '        i435 

''  >  -."^ 

"^* . 
commlinica.tion ;  but  it  is  not  out  of  place  to  remark  that  while  so  much  liberality  had 

been  indulge^  ii3^;^,wing  a  considerable  number  ofm-Sf-itJf^!^  tt>  be  placed  in  the 
cemetery,  sel  annexed  statement  (Exhibit  "  I  "),  which  are  not  within  the  scope  and 
purport  of  the  acts  of  the  Leg'hter~V-t3f''^enirsylvania  establishing  the  cemetery,  it 
seems  rather  ungracious  now  to  interpose  objections  to  the  legitimate  use  of  the  cemetery 
by  the  State  of  New  York  for  the  purposes  in  exact  conformity  with  the  terms  of  the 
grants  formulated  by  Pennsylvania,  and  under  which  the  cemetery  is  held  in  trust  by  the 
United  States.  Nevertheless,  no  voice  has  been  heard,  nor  will  ever  be  heard,  in  the 
State  of  New  York  against  the  erection  of  these  memoriajs  to  the  honored  soldiers  of 
other  States. 

The  only  two  monuments  now  in  the  cemetery  erected  in  accordance  with  the  terms 
of  the  trust  are  the  National  monument  and  a  monument  erected  by  the  members  of  the 
First  Minnesota  Infantry,  to  their  fallen  comrades  buried  in  the  cemetery,  on  the  plot 
set  apart  for  the  State  of  Minnesota.  The  proposed  New  York  monument  is  of  the 
same  character  precisely  as  these  two. 

So  far  as  this  board  is  informed,  the  opposition  made  to  its  application  has  its  origin 
in  the  persistent  efforts  of  one  person  (a  member  of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Associa- 
tion), at  whose  instigation  all  the  protests  mentioned  in  the  letter  to  the  Secretary  of 
War  have  been  filed.  Other  protests  have  been  solicited  and  refused.  The  resolution 
of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Association  (Exhibit  "  C  ")  shows  that  "  all  protests  filed 
with  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War  against  the  erection  of  the  proposed  State  monu- 
ment of  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  National  Cemetery  by  any  member,  or  members,  of 
the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Association,  are  made  by  them  individually,  without  the  sanction 
or  authority  of  this  Association  and  must  not  be  considered  as  having  such  sanction  or  authority." 

Gen.  Beaver  states,  in  his  letter  to  our  engineer  and  secretary,  Mr.  Zabriskie  (Exhibit 
"  K  "),  that  his  letter  to  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War  was  written  "  at  the  suggestion 
of  others "  and  "  with  very  great  reluctance."  Gen.  Beaver  also  points  out  that  he 
"  merely. hinted  in  the  letter"  at  the  principal  object,  which  is  "to  erect  upon  the  most 
commanding  position  on  the  Cemetery  Hill  what,  it  is  hoped,  will  be  the  crowning  glory 
of  the  battlefield, —  a  monument  to  Gen  Meade,  his  corps  commanders,  and  the  different 
arms  of  the  service."  Of  course,  General  Beaver  would  not  have  contemplated  placing 
a  monument  of  this  character,  in  the  cemetery,  if  his  attention  had  been  called  to  the  pre- 
cise definition  of  the  objects  of  the  cemetery  as  contained  in  the  acts  of  the  Legislature 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  deed  of  transfer  to  the  United  States,  copies  of  which  are  here- 
with transmitted.  Nothing  could  be  more  appropriate  than  such  a  monument  as  Gen. 
Beaver  describes,  if  placed  on  the  Battlefield  of  Gettysburg. 

Briefly  recapitulating  the  foregoing  statement,  it  appears: 

I.  That  Governor  Beaver's  remonstrance  is  not  made  on  behalf  of  the  State, —  nor  on 
behalf  of  the  association  of  which  he  is  ex-officio  president;  and  that  his  personal  com- 
munication to  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War  was  made  at  "  the  suggestion  of  others," 
and  "  with  very  great  reluctance." 

2.  That  the  communication  from  Judge  Wills,  a  copy  of  which  was  kindly  given  to  our 
engineer,  Mr.  Zabriskie,  is  founded  upon  a  misapprehension  of  the  character  and  pur- 
pose of  the  proposed  monument.  He  supposes  that  the  present  application  is  from 
"  representatives  of  some  of  the  New  York  regiments  that  participated  in  the  Battle  of 
Gettysburg,"  for  leave  to  erect  a  monument  in  the  cemetery  to  their  organizations,  and 
he  accordingly  protests  against  a  monument  being  "erected  by  any  infantry  or  artillery 
organization,"  on  the  summit  in  the  Soldiers'  National  Cemetery.  Judge  Wills  does  not 
seem  to  know  that  the  proposed  monument  is  to  be  erected  by  the  State  of  New  York  to 
its  soldiers  who  are  buried  in  the  cemetery,  and  that  such  memorials  are  provided  for  in 
the  acts  of  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  inaugurating  the  cemetery,  which  acts  Judge 
Wills  states  he  procured  to  be  enacted. 

3.  That  the  protest,  made  last  year,  by  the  Senators  from  New  England,  was  based 
on  suggestions  from  a  certain  quarter,  to  the  effect  that  the  sites  in  the  cemetery  desired 
by  artillery  organizations  in  their  respective  States,  would  be  interfered  with  if  the  New 


1436  \  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

York  application  was  granted.  It  has  been  clearjy  shown  by  the  diagram  of  the  ceme- 
tery grounds  now  on  •^e'T^tit^Wi  ■£  Department,  a  copy  of  whidl^e  \if«^ith  inclosed, 
marked  (Exhibit  "  L"),  that  there  is"  no  such  interference;,  and  that  the  sites  desired  for 
the  New  England  battery  monuments  are  ali^a^y*»teT%fid,  and  several  of  the  monuments 
erected.  ' 

4.  It  appears  that  whenever  a  protest  has  been  filed  in  the  War  Department  against 
granting  the  application  of  New  York  for  a  site  for  its  monument,  the  protestors  desired 
the  same  ground  for  themselves,  the  difference  being  that,  whereas  the  object  of  the 
New  York  monument  is  strictly  in  harmony  with  the  declared  purpose  of  the  cemetery, 
to-wit,  a  memorial  of  the  dead  who  are  buried  in  the  cemetery,  the  monuments  to  be 
erected  by  the  protestants  are  to  be  dedicated  to  military  organizations  or  deceased 
officers  who  are  not  buried  in  the  cemetery. 

In  conclusion,  if  it  should  be  decided,  after  such  further  consideration  as  the  honorable 
Secretary  of  War  may  give  to  the  subject,  that  the  application  of  the  State  of  New  York 
cannot  be  granted,  it  will  only  remain  for  the  commissioners  to  communicate  the  facts 
to  the  Governor  and  Legislature  of  the  State  and  await  their  further  instructions. 

This  letter  has  been  unavoidably  delayed  until  the  documents  transmitted  herewith 
could  be  obtained  from  official  sources. 

Very  respectfully, 

(sgd)        D.  E.  SICKLES, 
Maj.  Gen.,  U.  S.  A.  {Ret.),  Chairman. 


ENCLOSURES. 

Exhibit  "  A."—  Hon.  Redfield  Proctor  to  Gen.  D.  E.  Sickles,  November  12,  1890. 

Exhibit  "  B." —  General  Beaver  to  Hon.  Redfield  Proctor,  September  25,  1890. 

Exhibit  "  C." —  Calvin  Hamilton  to  A.  J.  Zabriskie,  December  8,  1890.  Enclosing 
resolution  of  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Association  herewith  annexed. 

Exhibit  "  D." —  Copy  of  act  of  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature  incorporating  the  Sol- 
diers' National  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Exhibit  "  E." —  Copy  of  supplementary  act  ceding  said  cemetery  to  the  United 
States. 

Exhibit  "  F." —  Resolutions  of  board  of  managers  of  said  cemetery  authorizing  Judge 
Wills  to  make  the  transfer  to  the  United  States. 

Exhibit  "  G."—  Judge  Wills  to  Hon.  Redfield  Proctor,  October  7,  1890. 

Exhibit  "  H." —  Contribution  by  the  several  States  to  the  construction  of  Soldiers' 
National  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 

Exhibit  "  I." —  List  of  regimental  and  battery  monuments  erected  in  said  cemetery. 

Exhibit  "  K." —  General  Beaver  to  A.  J.  Zabriskie,  December  13,  1890. 

Exhibit  "  L." —  Plan  of  the  cemetery,  showing  plot  of  proposed  New  York  monument 
and  sites  for  battery  monuments. 

General  Carr  and  Major  Richardson  were  appointed  a  committee  to  report 
to  the  board  at  the  following  meeting  upon  a  suitable  location  for  the  State 
monument. 

During  the  year  1890,  designs  for  monuments  were  received  from  the 
remaining  regiments  and  batteries,  with  few  exceptions,  and  when  found  satis- 
factory, received  the  board's  approval.    A  number  of  trials  were,  in  some 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1437 

instances,  necessary  before  an  appropriate  design  was  secured.  It  is,  per- 
haps, pertinent  to  remark  that  the  study  required  to  prepare  a  design  to  fit- 
tingly represent  a  command  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg  was  much  increased 
during  the  period  covering  the  duties  of  the  board.  When  this  work  first 
began,  very  few  monuments  had  been  erected  and  the  range  of  designs  was 
large  and  unrestricted;  but,  as  time  elapsed,  with  300  or  more  memorials 
scattered  over  the  field,  in  endless  variety,  it  became  a  more  perplexing  ques- 
tion in  which  the  character  of  the  surroundings  had  to  be  carefully  weighed, 
so  that  the  monument  would  not  appear  commonplace. 

The  alterations  in  the  monument  of  the  One  hundred  and  twenty-fourth 
New  York  Infantry  authorized  by  the  commission  having  been  made,  a  proper 
instrument  was  prepared  and  executed  by  which  all  the  rights,  title  and  interest 
of  the  "  Society  of  the  124th  Regiment  of  New  York  Volunteers  "  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  State  of  New  York.    This  indenture  is  dated  March  13,  1891. 

Nine  plots  for  sites  of  monuments  were  surveyed  during  the  season  of 
1890,  and  a  deed,  in  the  usual  form,  was  executed  by  the  Gettysburg  Battle- 
field Memorial  Association,  June  27,  1891,  transferring  the  use  and  occupancy 
of  these  plots  to  the  State  of  New  York. 

The  grading  and  sodding  around  the  monuments,  performed  under  contract 
with  Mr.  N.  G.  Wilson,  were  inspected  and  found  to  improve  their  general 
appearance.  The  grading  caused  the  removal  of  all  debris,  small  stones,  etc., 
from  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  monuments,  and  the  sod  gave  a  neat  and 
finished  appearance,  preventing  the  wash  of  the  earth  adjacent  to  the  base. 

The  final  settlement  of  the  location  of  the  site  for  the  State  monument  was 
reached  at  a  meeting  of  the  commissioners  held  February  18,  1891,  at  which 
the  following  communication  was  read  and  the  site  therein  tendered  by  the 
Secretary  of  War  was  formally  accepted: 

War  Department, 
WAsmNGTON,  D.  C,  Feb.  14,  1891. 
Maj.  Gen.  D.  E.  Sickles,  U.  S.  A., 

Chairman,  etc.,  etc.,  New  York: 
General. —  Referring  to  the  correspondence  had  relative  to  the  proposed  erection, 
in  the  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  National  Cemetery,  of  a  monument  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  to  the  memory  of  the  dead  of  the  State,  who  are  buried  in  the  National  Cemetery 
at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  you  are  respectfully  informed  that  permission  is  hereby  granted  for 
the  erection  of  the  monument  in  that  part  of  the  grounds  indicated  on  the  accompanying 
blue  print,  the  exact  site  to  be  determined,  after  consultation  at  the  cemetery,  between 
a  representative  of  your  commission  and  an  engineer  of  the  Quartermaster's  Department, 
who  will  be  sent  for  the  purpose  whenever  you  may  request. 

Very  respectfully, 
(sgd)        REDFIELD  PROCTOR, 

Secretary  of  War. 

The  location  designated  is  in  the  Gettysburg  National  Cemetery,  on  the 
lawn  between  the  Reynolds  statue  and  the  national  monument.     The  precise 


1438  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

position  was  fixed  and  approved  by  the  Quartermaster  General,  United  States 
Army,  on  February  28,  1891 ;  authority  was  given  on  March  3,  1891,  to  com- 
mence operations  at  any  time;  and  on  the  17th  of  that  month  ground  was 
broken.  This  closed  a  question  that  had  been  under  discussion  more  or  less 
animated,  as  occasion  demanded,  since  November  13,  1888,  the  date  of  the 
first  application  to  the  Secretary  of  War. 

The  original  plans  of  the  State  monument,  upon  which  the  estimates  were 
based,  contemplated  the  use  of  a  shaft  with  hammered  surface  and  cut  in  four 
sections.  A  summary  of  the  estimates  for  the  several  classes  of  construction 
called  for  by  the  design  (not  including  the  surmounting  statue)  showed  that 
a  balance  remained  of  the  appropriation,  and  it  was  decided  to  use  this  sum  in 
the  enrichment  of  the  shaft.  Supplementary  proposals  were,  therefore,  invited 
for  furnishing  shaft  in  one  piece  with  polished  surface,  also  in  four  pieces  with 
polished  surface.  The  cost  of  a  shaft  in  one  piece  exceeded  the  amount  avail- 
able, and  it  was,  therefore,  decided  to  adopt  the  plan  of  a  polished  shaft  in 
four  sections. 

At  board  meeting  held  February  18,  1891,  the  proposal  of  the  Hallowell 
Granite  Works,  for  the  granite  work  of  the  State  monument,  was  accepted; 
the  material  to  be  of  Hallowell  granite,  excepting  polished  shaft,  which  should 
be  of  Fox  Island  granite. 

The  commissioners  were  informed  at  the  same  session  that  the  regimental 
organizations  of  the  Twelfth  and  Forty-fourth  Infantry  had  awarded  the  con- 
tract for  that  monument  to  Mr.  Geo.  H.  Mitchell. 

Communications  were  presented  from  the  secretary  of  the  Gettysburg  Bat- 
tlefield Memorial  Association  relative  to  the  positions  of  the  Eighth  New 
York  Cavalry,  the  One  hundred  and  eleventh  and  One  hundred  and  twenty- 
second  New  York  Infantry. 

Notice  of  amicable  adjustment  of  the  question  of  the  site  for  the  One 
hundred  and  eleventh  New  York  Infantry  monument  was  officially  confirmed. 

The  commissioners  appeared  March  4,  1891,  before  the  ways  and  means 
committee  of  the  Assembly,  presenting  a  financial  statement  showing  the 
amounts  appropriated  and  expended,  and  submitting  an  estimate  of  appro- 
priations required  for  the  current  year.  An  additional  sum  of  $10,000  was 
asked  for  in  the  estimate,  for  the  surmounting  statue  on  the  State  monument 
and  regulating  the  grounds  adjacent  thereto.  This  amount  was  appropriated 
in  chapter  302,  Laws  of  1891. 

The  request  of  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association  for  consent 
to  remove  the  One  hundred  and  twenty-second  New  York  Infantry  monument 
to  the  second  fine  of  battle  again  came  before  the  board  on  May  21,  1891, 
when  a  reply  from  the  veteran  association  of  that  command  was  submitted. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  One  hundred  and  twenty-fifth  New  York  Infantry 
Veteran  Association  submitted  a  lengthy  report  urging  that  the  Battlefield 
Memorial  Association  be  prevailed  upon  to  remove  their  monument  to  the 
front  line  of  battle.  This  application  was  referred  to  the  battlefield  associa- 
tion for  an  expression  of  their  views. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1439 

A  favorable  response  having  been  received  from  the  monument  committee 
of  the  Eighth  New  York  Cavalry  Veteran  Association,  the  board  approved 
the  proposed  removal  of  this  monument  by  the  Battlefield  Memorial  Associa- 
tion, the  expense  to  be  borne  by  them,  and  the  work  to  be  done  under  the 
supervision  of  the  engineer  of  this  commission. 

A  general  discussion  followed  as  to  proposed  inscriptions  for  bronze  tablets 
on  State  monument ;  also  upon  the  plans  submitted  in  competition  for  designs 
for  the  same;  action  on  these  matters  was  deferred  until  the  next  meeting. 

The  commissioners  met  July  9,  1891,  to  take  action  upon  the  designs  for 
the  State  monument  submitted  in  accordance  with  circular  issued  by  the 
commission,  dated  July  19,  1889.  The  chairman  reviewed  the  salient  features 
connected  wi'th  the  competition,  pointing  out  that  the  original  appropriation 
not  having  been  increased,  the  commission  could  not  consider  designs  whose 
cost  of  construction  would  be  largely  in  excess  of  amount  appropriated.  After 
inspecting  the  designs  which  could  be  executed  for  $50,000,  it  was  decided 
that  those  showing  a  monument  that  could  be  built  for  the  amount  appro- 
priated were  not  sufficiently  meritorious  to  justify  the  award  of  a  premium. 
Other  designs  were  regarded  by  the  board  as  highly  meritorious;  but,  inas- 
much as  the  cost  of  construction  was  estimated  to  be  largely  in  excess  of  the 
appropriation,  the  board  was  unable  to  recognize  them  in  awarding  premiums. 
The  chairman  stated  that  Messrs.  Marshall  &  Walter  and  Mr.  Caspar  Buberl 
had  prepared  sketches  of  a  column  design  at  the  request  of  the  board;  and 
that  the  remuneration  of  the  latter  was  included  in  his  contract  for  sculptor's 
work  on  said  monument.  The  board  thereupon  authorized  the  payment  of 
$200  for  the  professional  services  of  Messrs.  Marshall  &  Walter. 

Commissioner  Richardson  submitted  a  report  upon  the  proposed  removal  of 
monument  of  the  One  hundred  and  twenty-second  New  York  Infantry  by  the 
Battlefield  Memorial  Association,  to  the  second  line  of  battle.  This  report 
recommended  that  the  monument  remain  in  its  present  position,  and  was 
approved. 

The  contractor  for  the  Twelfth  and  Forty-fourth  New  York  Infantry  monu- 
ment not  having  begun  to  set  any  portion  of  the  superstructure  at  the  time 
of  this  meeting,  the  chairman  was  directed  to  require  from  him  satisfactory 
guarantees  that  the  work  should  be  energetically  prosecuted  and  completed 
during  the  present  working  season,  and  that,  in  default  of  such  guarantees 
being  furnished  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  chairman,  the  contract  should  be 
abrogated,  and  the  organizations  concerned  directed  to  furnish  another  con- 
tractor without  delay. 

The  contract  for  the  granite  work  for  the  State  monument  was  executed  by 
the  Hallowell  Granite  Works,  February  24,  1891.  Active  work  upon  the  exca- 
vation for  foundation  began  April  6,  1891 ;  the  substructure  was  completed  the 
18th  of  September  of  that  year.  Shortly  after,  the  setting  of  the  superstructure 
began  and  continued  uninterruptedly  until  the  close  of  the  season,  when  a 


144°  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

water-tight  roof  was  placed  over  the  unfinished  monument  and  left  to  thor- 
oughly dry  out  during  the  winter.  A  contract  was  entered  into  with  Mr. 
Maurice  J.  Power,  dated  May  27,  1891,  to  furnish  and  erect  the  bronze  trophy, 
State  shield  and  corps  badges  on  the  front  of  the  State  monument. 

On  October  7,  1891,  the  commission  visited  Mr.  Caspar  Buberl's  studio  to 
examine  models  in  progress  for  alto-relievos  for  State  monument.  The 
question  as  to  what  incident  of  the  battle  should  form  the  subject  for  the 
fourth  panel,  also  which  general  officers  should  be  represented  thereon,  was 
taken  up,  discussed  and  referred  to  General  Slocum.  The  chairman  was 
authorized  at  this  meeting  to  ask  for  models  for  the  surmounting  statue  on 
State  monument,  the  same  to  take  the  form  of  a  female  figure,  typical  of  the 
State  of  New  York  decorating  the  graves  of  her  soldiers  who  lie  buried  in  her 
plot.  On  the  following  day  —  October  8,  1891  —  the  commissioners  pro- 
ceeded to  the  foundry  of  Mr.  Maurice  J.  Power  and  inspected  portions  of  the 
bronze  work  for  State  monument.  The  chairman  appointed  Generals  Slocum 
and  Carr,  with  Major  Richardson,  a  committee  to  visit  Gettysburg  and  inspect 
the  work  done  under  the  direction  of  the  board  during  that  season. 

A  number  of  sketch  models  for  surmounting  figure  of  State  monument, 
submitted  in  response  to  a  resolution  of  the  board  adopted  October  7,  1891, 
were  critically  examined  when  the  commissioners  convened  April  7,  1892. 
The  chairman  was  authorized  to  employ  Mr.  Caspar  Buberl  to  prepare  the 
desired  model,  following  outline  of  right-hand  figure  on  New  York  State 
shield.  The  commissioners  visited  his  studio  to  inspect  clay  model  of  the 
"  Second  Day  "  panel,  for  bronze  alto-relievo  of  the  monument ;  much  satis- 
faction was  expressed. 

The  arrangement  of  the  four  panels  of  bronze  circular  alto-relievo  on  upper 
die  of  the  State  monument,  was  adopted  by  the  commissioners  September  20, 
1892,  and  the  engineer  was  instructed  to  remove  the  lettering  designed  for  the 
pediments  on  the  ninth  course  of  the  monument.  On  October  10,  1892,  the 
commissioners  visited  the  bronze  foundry  of  the  Henry-Bonnard  Bronze  Com- 
pany and  inspected  a  bronze  alto-reUevo,  cast  for  the  State  monument,  which 
was  finished  and  mounted  on  frame  work,  so  that  the  general  effect  it  would 
have  in  place  could  be  judged  therefrom.  The  work  was  approved.  The 
plaster  cast  of  sketch  model  for  surmounting  statue  was  also  examined  at  the 
studio  of  the  sculptor,  Mr.  Buberl,  who  was  instructed  to  model  a  full-size 
figure,  in  accordance  therewith.  The  arrangement  of  panels  on  bronze  alto- 
relievo,  considered  at  last  meeting,  was  again  discussed  and  formally  approved 
at  this  session. 

At  the  close  of  operations  on  the  field,  in  1892,  all  of  the  regimental  and 
battery  monuments,  provided  for  by  State  appropriation,  were  completed,  ex- 
cept the  one  designed  for  the  Twelfth  and  Forty-fourth  Infantry.  This  monu- 
ment is  the  largest  and  most  expensive  regimental  monument  on  the  field,  and 
on  account  of  its  location  and  character,  a  prominent  and  interesting  feature. 

The  contractors  for  granite  work  of  the  State  monument  installed  a  well- 
adapted  plant  for  placing  in  position  the  heavy  stone  required,  and  began  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1441 

work  of  setting  at  the  beginning  of  the  season  of  1892.  The  massive 
carved  cap  was  successfully  set  in  place  September  i6th  of  that  year.  The 
contract  vnth  the  Henry-Bonnard  Bronze  Company  for  the  bronze  circular 
alto-relievo  for  the  State  monument  was  executed  April  14,  1892;  and  on 
April  15,  1892,  Caspar  Buberl  signed  the  agreement  for  a  full-size  model  in 
plaster  of  surmounting  statute  and  pedestal. 

The  bronze  work  furnished  by  the  Henry-Bonnard  Bronze  Company,  and 
that  furnished  by  Mr.  Maurice  J.  Power,  were  placed  in  position  before  the 
close  of  the  year  1892;  the  grading  and  sodding  of  grounds  adjacent  to  the 
State  monument  and  the  paths  surrounding  same  and  leading  thereto  were 
also  finished. 

General  Carr  and  Major  Richardson  inspected  full-size  clay  model  of  statue 
for  State  Monument  January  25,  1893.  (The  chairman's  inspections  were  made 
from  time  to  time  during  the  progress  of  the  work.)  Upon  the  afternoon  of 
that  day  the  board  convened  and  the  work  of  Mr.  Buberl  was  formally  ap- 
proved. Proposals  for  casting  the  statue  in  bronze  were  considered  at  the 
same  time,  and  the  proposal  of  the  Henry-Bonnard  Bronze  Company  was  ac- 
cepted. The  proposed  dedication  of  the  State  monument  and  regimental  and 
battery  monuments  was  discussed  at  this  meeting,  and  the  chairman  was  re- 
quested to  prepare  a  detailed  statement  of  the  moneys  required  to  furnish  free 
transportation  to  the  veterans  of  New  York  commands  who  took  part  in  the 
Battle  of  Gettysburg;  for  the  transportation  and  subsistence  of  the  Governor, 
Legislature  and  other  invited  guests,  including  a  detachment  of  the  National 
Guard;  for  the  incidental  expenses  of  the  commissioners  in  making  the  ar- 
rangements ;  and  for  the  preparation  of  a  suitable  final  report  of  work  done  by 
the  board,  said  estimate  to  call  for  an  aggregate  sum  of  $76,000  and  to  be 
submitted  to  the  present  Legislature  in  the  name  of  the  commissioners.  The 
chairman  was  also  requested  to  draft  a  suitable  dedicatory  inscription  for  the 
front  tablet  of  the  State  monument,  and  submit  same  to  each  member  for  his 
criticism. 

The  dilatory  methods  of  the  contractor  for  the  Twelfth  and  Forty-fourth 
infantry  monument  came  up  again  before  the  board,  and,  after  a  review  by 
the  chairman  of  the  many  promises  and  failures  connected  with  this  trouble- 
some case,  the  time  for  completion  was  extended  to  June  15,  1893,  under 
certain  conditions. 

The  bill  referred  to  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  making  provision  for  New 
York  Day  at  Gettysburg  July  i,  2,  3,  1893,  was  duly  submitted  to  the  Legisla- 
ture. In  the  Supply  Bill  of  that  year  $49,500  was  appropriated  and  became 
available  May  18,  1893.  As  it  was  estimated  that  at  least  5,000  survivors 
would  make  application  for  free  transportation  to  attend  the  ceremonies,  entail- 
ing an  extended  correspondence  and  a  vast  amount  of  detail  work  to  carry  the 
project  to  a  successful  issue,  it  was  decided  not  to  wait  until  the  appropriation 
became  available.  A  circular  letter  was,  therefore,  promulgated  on  March  27, 
1893,  to  the  veteran  associations  of  all  the  New  York  commands,  with  a  view 
91 


1442  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

of  ascertaining  how  many  survivors  desired  free  transportation  on  "  New  York 
Day ;"  another  circular  followed  on  April  loth,  inquiring  as  to  lines  of  railroad 
and  the  stations  at  which  the  men  would  assemble,  inclosing  blank  forms  for 
lists  of  names  of  veterans  applying  for  transportation.  On  April  20th,  another 
circular  was  forwarded  to  each  regimental  organization,  urging  that  the  names 
and  addresses  of  those  desiring  transportation  be  furnished  without  delay. 
Circular  No.  4,  on  the  same  lines,  was  dated  May  6th,  and  fixed  a  time  for  filing 
a  supplementary  list. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board,  held  May  6,  1893,  the  plan  and  scope  of  the 
forthcoming  dedication  on  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  the  battle  we.re  deter- 
mined. Provision  was  made  for  checking  and  verifying  the  lists  of  applicants 
for  free  transportation,  so  as  to  be  assured  that  those  whose  names  appeared 
upon  the  rolls,  furnished  through  the  organizations,  were  participants  with 
New  York  commands  at  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg.  Arrangements  were  made 
for  securing  tents  to  provide  shelter  for  those  who  desired  to  camp  on  the 
field.  The  program  of  exercises  for  the  dedication  of  the  State  monument, 
July  2,  1893,  was  decided  upon,  and  Bishop  Potter  of  New  York  was  chosen 
as  the  orator  of  the  occasion.,  The  chairman  of  this  board  was  requested  to 
act  as  presiding  ofificer.  The  question  of  a  suitable  escort  for  the  Governor 
was  taken  up,  and  Adjutant  General  Porter  suggested  that  as  an  escort  of 
less  than  a  regiment  would  be  greatly  dwarfed  by  the  large  numbers  present 
he  recommended,  in  view  of  the  small  appropriation  available,  that  the  escort 
be  omitted.  Upon  the  suggestion  of  the  chairman,  the  matter  was  referred  to 
General  Slocum,  to  confer  with  the  War  Department,  and  obtain  detachments 
of  United  States  Regulars  for  the  occasion.  In  the  matter  of  music.  General 
Slocum  undertook  to  get  the  band  at  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Bath  without 
charge.  The  subject  of  music  for  the  occasion  was  therefore  referred  to 
General  Slocum,  to  report  at  the  next  meeting.  It  was  proposed  by  General 
Sickles  that  a  bronze  "  Medal  of  Honor  "  be  struck  off  in  connection  with  the 
"  New  York  Day  "  celebration,  to  be  given  to  each  survivor  of  a  New  York 
command  who  took  part  in  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg.  This  proposition  met 
with  much  favor  and  was  adopted.  The  preparation  of  a  suitable  design  and 
its  execution  was  left  to  the  chairman,  with  power,  as  was  also  the  matter  of 
providing  appropriate  invitation  cards  and  ribbon  badges.  By  reason  of  the 
greatly  increased  detail  work,  incident  to  the  "  New  York  Day  "  ceremonies, 
upon  the  recommendation  of  General  Carr,  Major  W.  W.  Bennett  was  en- 
gaged to  assist  the  engineer  and  secretary  from  May  6th  to  September  25, 
1893,  performing  the  varied  duties  assigned  to  him  in  a  diligent  and  efficient 
manner. 

The  first  official  notice  to  the  various  New  York  commands  of  the  action 
of  the  board  relative  to  ''  Medals  of  Honor  "  was  contained  in  Circular  No.  5, 
dated  May  24,  1893,  by  which  the  executive  officers  of  each  veteran  organiza- 
tion were  requested  to  exercise  the  utmost  care  to  verify  in  every  instance  the 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  i443 

fact  that  each  and  every  applicant  on  their  list  was  a  veteran  who  participated 
with  their  command  at  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg. 

Information  was  given  by  Circular  No.  7,  under  date  of  May  31,  1893,  that 
700  tents,  12x14  feet,  from  the  Quartermaster  General's  Department,  U.  S.  A., 
would  be  pitched  adjacent  to  the  cemetery  for  the  accommodation  of  all 
veterans  who  desired  quarters  under  canvas.  The  date  of  the  principal  ser- 
vices of  the  occasion  was  promulgated  in  this  circular,  also  the  method  of 
issuance  and  distribution  of  transportation  certificates. 

The  matter  of  transportation  and  subsistence  of  His  Excellency  the  Gov- 
ernor and  his  staff  was  placed  by  the  commission  in  the  hands  of  Adjutant 
General  Porter,  at  a  meeting  held  June  6,  1893.  A  communication  was  re- 
ceived from  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Bath,  tendering  the 
services  of  the  Home  band  to  the  board  for  New  York  Day.  The  engineer 
was  directed  to  procure  transportation  and  subsistence  at  Gettysburg  for  the 
band  under  the  charge  of  the  quartermaster  of  the  Home.  Col.  DeWitt  C. 
Sprague  was  selected  as  poet.  The  chairman  was  authorized  to  procure  corps 
and  brigade  flags  representing  the  corps  and  brigades  with  which  the  New 
York  troops  served  at  Gettysburg  in  July,  1863.  He  was  further  empowered 
to  arrange  for  transportation  and  subsistence  for  the  commissioners.  At  this 
session  —  June  6,  1893 —  it  was  agreed  that  a  military  procession  to  take 
place  immediately  before  the  ceremonies  on  July  2d  would  add  interest  to  the 
occasion.  By  resolution,  duly  adopted,  Major  General  Daniel  Butterfield  was 
selected  as  marshal,  he  to  name  his  own  aides  and  arrange  a  program  and 
submit  the  same  to  the  board. 

The  form  of  certificate  issued  on  the  occasion  of  "  New  York  Day  "  to  those 
whose  names  were  on  the  rolls  prepared  by  the  board,  and  entitled  by  their 
services  to  free  transportation,  was  contained  in  Circular  No.  9,  dated  June  12, 
1893.  Information  was  given  in  this  circular  that  Gen.  Daniel  Butterfield  had 
accepted  the  appointment  of  grand  marshal.  Commanding  officers  of  organ- 
izations, on  their  arrival  at  Gettysburg,  were  directed  to  report  to  General 
Butterfield  at  his  headquarters. 

On  June  21,  1893,  the  commission  inspected  the  surmounting  statue  for 
State  monument  at  the  foundry  of  the  Henry-Bonnard  Bronze  Company.  At 
the  meeting  which  followed,  on  their  return  to  the  office  of  the  board,  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  immediate  shipment  of  the  statue  and  its  proper  setting 
in  position  upon  the  monument,  prior  to  "  New  York  Day."  An  extension  of 
time  for  filing  applications  for  free  transportation  having  been  requested  by 
many  survivors,  it  was  decided  that  all  applications  filed  at  the  present  time 
and  verified  by  the  regulations  heretofore  adopted,  should  be  granted.  This 
ruUng  respecting  time  obtained,  as  far  as  practicable,  until  the  day  prior  to 
the  departure  of  the  commissioners  to  Gettysburg. 

The  first  installment  of  certificates  was  issued  on  the  evening  of  June  14, 
1893,  and  proceeded  uninterruptedly  until  the  requirements  of  the  muster 


1444  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

rolls,  filed  on  or  before  June  7,  1893,  had  been  met.  The  preparation  of  cer- 
tificates, called  for  by  the  supplementary  rolls  filed  after  that  date,  was  taken 
up  in  their  order  and  issued  in  accordance  with  the  action  of  the  board  at  a 
meeting  held  June  21, 1893.  Upon  an  examination  of  the  certificate  exchanged 
for  tickets  by  the  railroads,  no  counterfeits  were  found.  Each  certificate  was 
numbered,  specifying  the  railway  company,  name  of  veteran,  the  command  to 
which  he  belonged  and  the  station  from  which  transportation  was  to  be  fur- 
nished. These  particulars  were  placed  on  the  stub  opposite  the  certificate 
before  it  was  removed  from  the  books  in  which  the  blanks  were  bound. 

The  certificates  for  transportation  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  executive 
officers  of  the  veteran  organizations  for  distribution  to  the  veterans  in  whose 
favor  they  were  drawn.  A  bulletin  was  issued  to  accompany  each  certificate, 
instructing  the  holder  to  present  the  certificate  at  the  railroad  station  specified 
thereon  and  receipt  —  for  transportation  furnished  —  in  the  presence  of  the 
railroad  agent.  Certificates  were  not  transferable;  if  not  used,  were  ordered 
returned. 

There  were  7,165  certificates  issued;  5,317  certificates  were  exchanged  for 
tickets,  by  thirteen  railroads  at  366  railway  stations ;  a  large  number  of  unused 
certificates  and  many  railroad  tickets  were  returned ;  and  the  value  of  the  latter, 
based  upon  rates  named  in  the  settlement  for  used  tickets,  was  accordingly  de- 
ducted. In  conclusion,  it  may  be  added  that  many  commendatory  letters  on 
the  success  attending  the  transportation  of  veterans  to  and  from  Gettysburg 
on  the  occasion  of  "  New  York  Day "  celebration  were  received.  A  very 
small  number  of  complaints  were  filed,  each  of  which  was  duly  investigated. 

The  issue  and  distribution  of  medals  of  honor  to  Gettysburg  veterans  of 
New  York  commands  was  an  interesting  and  popular  feature  Connected  with 
the  dedication  of  monuments  on  "  New  York  Day,"  and  one  greatly  appre- 
ciated by  New  York  veterans.  It  was  the  chairman's  desire  that  these  medals 
should  possess  artistic  merit;  with  this  in  view,  application  was  made 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  at  Washington  to  strike  off  the  medals 
at  the  United  States  mint  in  Philadelphia.  The  superintendent  of  the  mint 
offered  every  facility  for  the  preparation  of  the  dies  and  the  prosecution  of  the 
other  work  incident  to  the  matter  in  hand.  A  design  was  accordingly  pre- 
pared and  duly  accepted  by  the  commissioners.  Proposals  were  received  on 
the  1 6th  of  May,  from  the  engraver  of  the  mint,  for  furnishing  the  dies 
for  medal  and  bar;  and  from  the  superintendent  naming  price  foir  each 
medal  and  bar,  mounted  complete.  The  chairman  accepted  these  proposals, 
and  on  the  following  day  the  mint  was  duly  notified.  In  his  letter  of  accept- 
ance the  chairman  said :  "  You  understand  fully  that  my  desire  is  to  have  an 
appropriate  design  and  a  high  character  of  execution,  for  the  important  occa- 
sion of  which  it  is  commemorative,  and  I  beg  to  enlist  your  valuable  aid  and 
expert  knowledge  in  our  behalf." 

When  the  muster  rolls  for  medals,  called  for  by  Circular  No.  9,  began  to 
reach  this  office,  it  was  learned  that  the  number  of  applications  would  far  ex- 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1445 

cee'd  that  shown  by  the  transportation  rolls.  One  thousand  more  medals  were 
thereupon  ordered  from  the  mint,  making  a  total  of  7,000.  By  August  i, 
1893,  all  the  veteran  organizations,  with  few  exceptions,  had  filed  their  muster 
rolls  for  medals.  Upon  a  tabulation  of  the  same,  it  was  learned  that  an  aggre- 
gate of  fully  10,000  were  necessary  to  fill  the  requisitions  to  date,  and  with  the 
supplementary  rolls  that  would  naturally  follow  it  was  estimated  that  a  grand 
total  of  11,000  medals  were  required.  After  correspondence  with  his  col- 
leagues, the  chairman  directed  that  an  order  be  placed  with  the  mint  for  the 
balance  of  4,000. 

The  board,  at  the  meeting  September  17,  1893,  formally  approved  the  order 
given  by  the  chairman  for  4,000  additional  medals,  making  a  total  of  11,000 
from  the  United  States  mint.  A  copy  of  an  assignment  of  claim  of  contractor 
for  constructing  monument  to  the  Twelfth  and  Forty-fourth  New  York  In- 
fantry was  read.  The  principal  details  connected  with  this  work  were  stated, 
and  it  was  deemed  inadvisable  to  make  any  payment  thereon,  either  in  whole 
or  in  part,  until  the  monument  was  completed  and  free  from  all  claims  and 
liens,  as  required  by  terms  of  contract.  On  the  following  day  —  September  18, 
1893  —  a  basis  of  settlement  with  the  Henry-Bonnard  Bronze  Company  for 
casting  of  surmounting  figure  for  State  monument  was  formulated.  The  ad- 
justment of  accounts  with  the  several  railroad  companies  for  transportation  of 
veterans  to  and  from  Gettysburg  was  left  to  the  chairman  and  secretary. 

The  chairman,  under  date  of  December  12,  1893,  reported  to  his  Excellency 
the  Governor  the  proceedings  of  the  commissioners  in  connection  with  the 
dedication  ceremonies  in  July,  1893.  On  February  24,  1894,  the  chairman 
submitted  to  the  board  a  statement  of  moneys  appropriated  by  chapter  726, 
Laws  of  1893,  for  "  New  York  Day  "  at  Gettysburg,  July  i,  2,  3,  1893,  also  the 
disbursements,  in  pursuance  of  said  act,  together  with  a  statement  of  bills  for 
transportation  from  the  various  railway  companies,  showing  the  amount  of  de- 
ficiency —  $27,534  —  which  had  been  foreseen  and  expected,  and  submitted  for 
consideration  a  draft  of  an  item  to  be  inserted  in  the  supply  bill  for  that  year 
providing  for  the  deficiency.  The  draft  received  the  approval  of  the  board, 
and  General  Sickles  was  authorized  to  forward  copies  to  the  chairmen  of  the 
proper  committees  of  the  Legislature,  with  the  reports  of  the  engineer  em- 
bodying the  executive  work  of  the  commissioners  appertaining  to  "  New 
York  Day." 

The  item  before  mentioned  was  favorably  acted  upon  by  the  Legislature 
of  1894,  and  the  balance  required  to  pay  deficiencies  for  transportation  was 
provided  by  chapter  358  of  that  year.  The  settlement  of  accounts  with 
the  several  railroad  companies  was  effected  by  August  16,  1894.  These 
bills  were  prepared  with  much  care.  On  the  statements  accompanying  the 
vouchers  covering  these  disbursements,  appears  the  number  of  each  certificate 
used  and  the  name  of  the  station  where  the  same  was  honored ;  each  rate  was 
duly  computed  on  the  basis  of  three  and  one-half  cents  per  mile,  one  way 


1446  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

distance,  which  required  that  the  short-line  mileage  from  each  of  the  stations 
to  Gettysburg  should  be  calculated. 

By  reason  of  the  wide  publicity  given  through  the  newspapers  and  at 
gatherings  of  veterans,  that  "  Medals  of  Honor  "  would  be  issued  by  this 
commission  to  members  of  New  York  commands  who  participated  in 
the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  applications  continued  to  be  received  by  the 
secretary.  From  this  condition  arose  the  necessity  of  the  most  careful  scru- 
tiny to  verify  the  claims  of  each  applicant.  The  assistance  rendered  by  the 
Auditor  of  the  War  Department  in  furnishing  reports  from  the  muster  rolls 
of  June  30th  and  August  31,  1863,  on  file  in  his  department,  was  of  special 
value  and  highly  appreciated.  The  first  application  to  the  Auditor  bears  the 
date  of  November  3,  1893,  and  since  that  time  the  correspondence  has  contin- 
ued with  greater  or  lesser  intervals  according  to  the  frequency  of  applications. 
These  requests  have  been  promptly  and  satisfactorily  responded  to,  and  the 
nature  of  the  replies  has  governed  the  distribution  of  the  medals,  in  accordance 
with  the  regulations  of  the  board. 

On  April  17,  1894,  the  commissioners  assembled  at  the  office  of  the  board. 
The  chairman  stated  that  the  meeting  had  been  called  to  take  proper  action 
on  the  death  of  Maj.  Gen.  Henry  Warner  Slocum,  a  member  of  this  board, 
which  occurred  on  Saturday,  April  14,  1894,  at  2:05  o'clock  a.  m.,  at  his 
residence,  465  Clinton  avenue,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  offered  the  following 
preamble  and  resolution,  which  were  unanimously  adopted. 

"  Whereas,  This  board  has  learned  with  profound  sorrpw  of  the  sudden 
decease  of  our  colleague,  Maj.  Gen.  Henry  W.  Slocum ;  therefore,  be  it, 

"  Resolved,  That  the  secretary  be  directed  to  enter  upon  the  minutes 
this  expression  of  our  sense  of  the  bereavement  we  have  suffered ;  and  we  unite 
with  our  comrades  of  the  Union  Army  and  especially  the  surviving  veterans 
of  the  State  of  New  York  in  placing  on  record  our  appreciation  of  the  dis- 
tinguished military  services  of  the  deceased  and  the  high  sense  of  rectitude 
and  honor  which  marked  all  his  conduct  in  civil  life. 

"  Resolved,  That  this  board,  as  a  body,  atteffd  the  funeral  of  General  Slocum 
to-day  in  Brooklyn. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  sent  to  the  widow  and 
family  of  the  deceased." 

The  board  thereupon  adjourned,  and  the  commissioners  and  secretary  at- 
tended the  funeral  of  General  Slocum. 

An  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  April  4,  1896,  directed  the  commission- 
ers to  erect  an  equestrian  statue  of  Major  General  Slocum,  at  Gettysburg, 
and  appropriated  $25,000  for  that  purpose. 

Maj.  Gen.  Josiah  Porter,  Adjutant  General  of  this  State — who  had  been 
an  ex-officio  member  of  this  commission  since  its  organization  —  died  at 
New  York,  December  14,  1894.  The  board  met  at  the  residence  of  General 
Sickles  on  the  17th  of  December,  and  the  commissioners  and  secretary,  as 
a  body,  attended  the  funeral  of  General  Porter  on  the  afternoon  of  that  day. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1447 

After  a  lingering  illness,  Bvt.  Maj.  Gen.  Joseph  B.  Carr  died  February 
24,  1895,  at  his  home  in  Troy,  N.  Y.  The  secretary  was  directed  to  place 
the  following  minute  upon  the  records  of  the  board: 

"  Whereas,  The  members  of  this  commission  have  been  informed  of  the 
death  of  their  colleague,  Bvt.  Maj.  Gen.  Joseph  B.  Carr,  on  Sunday,  Feb- 
ruary 24,  189s,  at  his  residence  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  therefore,  be  it 

"  Resolved,  That  the  secretary  be  directed  to  enter  upon  the  minutes  of  the 
board,  this  declaration  of  the  great  loss  we  have  suffered,  and  we  join  with 
the  Union  veterans  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  particularly  with  those 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  in  recording  our  high  appreciation  of  the  dis- 
tinguished military  record  of  the  deceased,  his  unblemished  character  and 
reputation  in  civil  life,  and  the  valuable  services  rendered  as  a  member  of 
this  commission. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  this  minute  be  sent  to  the  widow  and  family  of  the 
deceased." 

The  board  and  engineer  and  secretary,  as  a  body,  attended  the  funeral  of 
General  Carr,  at  Troy,  on  Wednesday  afternoon,  February  27,  1895. 

On  April  8,  1895,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  section  4,  chapter 
466,  Laws  of  1886,  his  Excellency,  Governor  Morton  appointed  Bvt.  Maj- 
Gen.  Alex.  S.  Webb,  of  New  York  city,  a  member  of  this  commission,' vice 
Bvt.  Maj.  Gen.  Joseph  B.  Carr,  deceased,  and  Bvt.  Brig.  Gen,  Anson  G. 
McCook,  on  the  23d  day  of  May,  1895,  in  the  place  made  vacant  by  the  death 
of  Maj.  Gen.  Henry  W.  Slocum.. 

By  chapter  317,  Laws  of  1895,  it  was  provided  that  the  commission,  con- 
stituted by  virtue  of  chapter  466,  Laws  of  1886,  and  further  continued  by 
chapter  269,  Laws  of  1887,  and  known  as  the  Gettysburg  Battlefield  Monu- 
ments Commission,  and  the  commission  constituted  by  virtue  of  chapter 
726,  Laws  of  1893,  and  further  continued  by  chapter  371,  Laws  of  1894,  and 
known  as  the  Chattanooga  Battlefields  Commission,  be  consoHdated  and  con- 
stituted as  one  commission,  and  that  the  commission  so  constituted  by  reason 
of  such  consolidation  shall  be  known  and  recognized  as  the  New  York  Monu- 
ments Commission  for  the  Battlefields  of  Gettysburg  and  Chattanooga.  In 
compliance  with  section  4  of  this  act,  the  senior  member  of  the  two  boards 
of  commissioners  thereby  consolidated  having  called  together  the  members 
of  the  two  separate  commissions,  on  April  24,  1895,  for  the  purpose  of  organ- 
ization, Maj.  Gen.  D.  E.  Sickles,  U.  S.  A..,  was  elected  chairman  and  A.  J. 
Zabriskie  was  appointed  engineer  and  secretary.  The  consolidated  com- 
mission, so  organized,  has  proceeded  in  the  erection  of  monuments  and  plac- 
ing markers  designating  the  positions  of  New  York  troops  on  the  battlefields 
around  Chattanooga  in  Tennessee. 

An  appropriation  of  $6,000  was  made  by  chapter  932,  Laws  of  1895,  for  de- 
fraying the  expenses  of  the  final  report  of  the  Gettysburg  Monuments  Com- 
missioners. The  act  provided  that  the  "  Report  shall  contain  a  representation 
of  each  monument  erected  by  them,  with  a  statement  of  its  location  and 


1448  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

cost  and  the  dedication  ceremonies,  and  also  a  brief  history  of  each  New 
York  regiment  and  battery  that  took  part  in  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  as 
authenticated  by  the  official  reports  and  records." 

Prior  to  the  passage  of  this  act  a  large  amount  of  material  had  been  col- 
lected for  a  final  report  and  its  plan  determined.  The  commissioners  author- 
ized the  chairman  to  engage  a  competent  person,  familiar  with  military  ser- 
vice and  conversant  with  war  records  and  literary  work,  to  write  the  History 
of  New  York  at  Gettysburg,  as  it  is  found  in  the  official  reports  and  authen- 
tic sources  of  information;  and  to  revise  such  matter  as  might  be  presented 
by  officers  and  members  of  New  York  regimental  and  battery  organizations 
that  took  part  in  the  battle.  The  chairman  selected  for  this  duty,  Col.  Wil- 
liam F.  Fox,  of  Albany,  and  his  appointment  was  confirmed  by  the  commis- 
sioners at  the  next  meeting.  , 

Appended  to  this  report  will  be  found  a  list  of  the  monuments,  markers  and 
tablets  on  the  battlefield,  erected  for  New  York  regiments  and  batteries, 
under  the  supervision  of  this  commission,  and  the  location  and  cost  of  each; 
likewise,  a  statement  of  the  appropriations  and  expenditures  made. 

Very  respectfully, 

D.  E.  SICKLES, 
Major  General,  U.  S.  Army, 

Chairman. 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 


1449 


LIST  OF  MONUMENTS,  MARKERS  AND  TABLETS  ON  THE  BAT- 
TLEFIELD OF  GETTYSBURG  TO  NEW  YORK  REGIMENTS 
AND  BATTERIES,  AND  THE  LOCATION  AND  COST  OF  EACH. 


Location. 

Cost. 

New  York  State  Monument 

N&tional  Cemetery  ••■■ •■•••*■..■• 

$59,095  30 

NEW  YOR,K  INFANTRY. 


REGIMENT. 


loth 

I2th  and  44th 

39tt 

39th  (marker) 

40th 

41st 

42d 

43d 

45th 

45th  (marker) 

49tli 

5zd 

54tli 

57th 

58th 

59tli 

60th 

6ist 

62d 

63d,  69th  and  88th 

64th 

65th 

66th 

67th 

68th 

70th,  71st,  72d,  73d,  74th. 

73d 

76th 

76th  (marker) 

77th 

78th  and  I02d 

80th 

82d 

83d 

84th 

84th  (marker) 

84th  (tablet) 

86th 

93d 

94th 

95th 

95th  (marker)    

9Sth  (marker) 

9Sth  (marker) 

95th  (marker) 

97th 

104th 

107th 


Locsitioc. 


Meade  Avenne 

Little  Round  Top  .   . . 

Hancock  Avenue 

United  States  Avenue. 

Plum  Run 

Steinwehr  Avenue  , . . . 

Hancock  Avenue 

Neill  Avenue 

Howard  Avenue 

Mummasburg  Road... 

Neill  Avenue 

Sickles  Avenue 

Steinwehr  Avenue  . . . . 

Sickles  Avenue 

Howard  Avenue 

Hancock  Avenue 

Slocum  Avenue 

"Wheatfield" 

Little  Round  Top 

Sickles  Avenue 

Brooke  Avenue    

Slocum  Avenne 

Sickles  Avenue 

Slocum  Avenue 

Steinwehr  Avenue  . . . . 

Sickles  Avenue 

Sickles  Avenue 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Slocum  Avenue     

Powers'  Hill  . . .- 

Slocum  Avenue 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Hancock  Avenue 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Reynolds  Avenue.   . . . 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Slocum  Avenue 

Sitkles  Avenue 

Sickles  Avenue 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Chambersburg  Pike. .. 

Gulp's  Hill 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Oak  Hill 

Slocum  Avenue 


Cost. 


$1,500  00 

*io,965  00 

1,500  00 


•|-2,225  00 
1,500  00 
8,500  00 
1,700  00 

::i,6i3  00 


1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
5,000  00 

:ti,685  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
7,500  00 

§5,000  00 
1,500  00 


1,500  00 

3,000  00 

i2,ooo  00 

^2,500  00 

i6,ooo  00 

^3,510  00 

1288  54 

H213  65 

1,500  00 

1,500  00 

1,500  00 

1,500  00 


1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 


*  Excess  of  $3,000  paid  by  regimental  associations. 

tFive  hundred  dollars  of  this  monument  paid  by  State  of  Massachusetts. 

±  Excess  of  $1,500  paid  by  regimental  association. ' 

S  Appropriated  by  chapter  ^9^,  Laws  of  1897. 

^  Paid  by  regimental  association. 


1450 


New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

NEW  YORK  INFANTRY  — (G;»rf««^<0. 


REGIMENT. 


io8th  

Ilith  

iigth 

i2oth  

I2ISt 

I22d 

123d 

124th 

124th  (monument) 

125th 

125th  (marker) 

126th 

39th,  iiith,  125th  and  126th 

134th  

136th  

I37tli 

140th 

145th 

146th 

M7th 

147th  (marker) 

I4gth 

150th    

150th  (marker) 

154th : 

157th 

157th  (marker) 

157th  (marker) 

1st  U.  S.  Sharpshooters 

iSth  and  soth  N.  Y.  Engijaeers  . 


Location. 


Hancock  Avenue 

Hancock  Avenue 

Howard  Avenue 

Sickles  Avenue 

Sykes  Avenue 

Slocum  Avenue 

Slocum  Avenue 

Sickles  Avenue 

Fleasanton  Avenue 

Hancock  Avenue 

Codori  Thicket 

Hancock  Avenue    

Sickles  Avenue 

East  Cemetery  Hill 

Taneytown  Road 

Slocum  Avenue 

Sykes  Avenue  

Slocum  Avenue 

Sykes  Avenue 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Slocum  Avenue 

Slocum  Avenue 

Slocum  Avenue 

United  States  Avenue 

Stratton  Street,  Gettysburg  . 

Howard  Avenue 

Carlisle  Road 

Howard  Avenue 

Confederate  Avenue 

Fleasanton  Avenue 


2d  . 
4th  . 
5th., 
6th  ., 
8th  . 
gth  ., 
loth 


NEW  YORK  CAVALRY. 

Fleasanton  Avenue 

Fleasanton  Avenue 

On  Hill  southwest  of  Round  Top  . 

Buf  ord  Avenue 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Buford  Avenue 

Hanover  Road 


1st,  B     

1st,  C 

1st,  D  

1st,  E 

1st,  G 

1st,  G  (marker) . 

1st,  I 

1st,  K 

1st,  L  

1st,  M 


NEW  YORK  LIGHT  ARTILLERY. 

Hancock  Avenue 

Sedgwick  Avenue 

Sickles  Avenue    

East  Cemetery  Hill 

Emmitsburg  Road 

Hancock  Avenue 

East  Cemetery  Hill 

Hancock  Avenue 

Reynolds  Avenue 

Fowers'  Hill 


INDEPENDENT  LIGHT  BATTERIES. 


1st  Battery 

3d  Battery    

4th  Battery 

5th  Battery    

5th  Battery  (guns) 

6th  Battery 

loth  Battery 

nth  Battery    

13th  Battery 

15th  Battery 


Hancock  Avenue.  . . . 

Taneytown  Road 

Sickles  Avenue 

National  Cemetery  .  . 
Evergreen  Cemetery 
Taneytown  Road  . . . . 

Sickles  Avenue 

Hancock  Avenue 

Howard  Avenue 


Sickles  Avenue  , 
Sickles  Avenue  , 


*  Excess  of  $z,soo  paid  by  regimental  association. 

t  Two  thousand  dollars  paid  by  regimental  association. 

i  Paid  by  regimental  association. 

S  Excess  of  $1,500  paid  by  regimental  association. 


Cost. 


$1,500  00 
*2,400  00 

1,500  00 
*2,6oo  00 

2,gOO  00 

1,500  00 

*4,ooo  00 

t2,7i4  00 

535  00 

*i,8io  00 

2,500  00 
+300  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 

1,500  00 
*4,400  00 
jioo  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 

j:900  00 

*i,75o  00 

3,000  00 


1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 

*8,50o  00 
1,500  00 

*2,345  00 
1,500  00 


1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
500  00 
1,500  00 


1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 


*2,275  00 

1,500  00 
1,500  00 
1,500  00 


1,500  00 
500  00 

500  00 

1,500  00 


1,500  00 


New  York  at  Gettysburg.  1451 


APPROPRIATIONS  AND  EXPENDITURES. 

•    For  monuments  and  tablets  to  regiments  and  batteries: 

Appropriations. 

Chapter  269,  Laws  of  1887 $60,000  00 

Chapter    83,  Laws  of  1888 67,500  00 

Chapter  126,  Laws  of  1889 2,000  00 

Chapter  420,  Laws  of  1889 10,500  00 

$140,000  00 
Disbursements. 
For  monuments  and  Tablets  to  94  regiments  and  batteries....     $136,864  76 

I2th  &  44th  Inf'y  Monument  contract 3,ooq  00 

Balance I35  24 

$140,000  00 

For  New  York  State  monument: 

Appropriations. 

Chapter  420,  Laws  of  1889 $So,ooo  00 

Chapter  302,  Laws  of  1891 10,000  00 

$60,000  00 

Disbursements. 

Amount  expended $59,095  3° 

Balance 904  70 

$60,000  00 

For  purchase  of  lands  for  monument  sites: 

Appropriation. 
Chapter  269,  Laws  of  1887 ■ $10,000  00 

Disbursements. 

Amount  expended   $9,784  32 

Balance 215  68 

$10,000  00 

For  procuring  marker  sites  and  grading  and  sodding  around  monuments 
and  markers: 

Appropriation. 
Chapter  440,  LawS  of  1890 $1,525  00 

Disbursements. 

Amount  expended   $1,469  7i 

Balance    55  29 

$1,525  00 

For  "  New  York  Day,"  July  i,  2,  3,  1893 : 

Appropriations. 

Chapter  726,  Laws  of  1893 $49,500  00 

Chapter  358,  Laws  of  1894 27,534,  00 

$77,034  00 


1452  New  York  at  Gettysburg. 

Disbursements. 

Amount  expended   $77,02l  92 

Balance    12  08 

$77,034  00 

For  preparation  of  final  report: 

Appropriations. 

Chapter  726,  Laws  of  1893 $i,SOO  00 

Chapter  932,  Laws  of  iSps 6,000  00 

$7,500  00 
Disbursements. 

Amount  expended  $6,423  17 

Balance,  January  I,  1900 1,076  83 

■  $7,500  00 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


A.  PAGE. 

Absolution  of  the  Irish  Brigade Si 

Adams,  Capt.  Samuel  G.,  address  by 552 

Allen,   Col.   Daniel   B.,   address   by 1049 

Althans,  Dr.  Charles  H.,  historical  sketch  by 394 

Ames,  Capt.  Nelson,  historical  sketch  by 1236 

Appropriation  and  expenditures  2,  1451,  1452 

Ayres,  Gen.  Romeyn  B.,  biography  of 1361 

B. 

Bachelder,  John  B.,  address  by 615 

Baldwin,  Lieut.  Edward,  historical  sketch  by 1318 

Bajlou,  Rev.  S.  S.,  invocation  by 383 

Barhydt,  Hon.  T.  L.,  oration  by . .  - , 911 

Barlow,  Gen.  Francis  C,  biography  of 1353 

Barnes,  Capt.  Almont,  historical  sketch  by 1188 

Barnum,   Gen.   Hewy  A.,  oration  by 445 

Barney,  Maj.  Luther  L.,  address  by 1169 

Bartlett,  Rev.  E.  O.,  benediction  by   1047 

Bartlett,  Gen.  Joseph  J.,  biography  of 1357 

Battle  of  Gettysburg,  History  of S-188 

Battlefield   Memorial   Association 1371 

Beauchamp,  Rev.  W.  O.,  oration  by 1178 

Beecher,  Rev.  Thomas  K.,  oration  by 559 

Bell,  Sergt.  Rufus,  address  by 434 

Bentley,  Col.  Wilber  G.,  address  by 1149 

Berdan,   Gen.   Hiram,  address  by 1078 

Biographies  of  New  York  generals 1331-1370 

Birdseye,  Col.  M.  B.,  historical  sketch  by 1099 

Boehm,  Christian,  oration  by 375 

Bornemann,  Lieut.  Charles,  notes  by 308 

Bowdish,   Rev.   A.   C,   invocation   by 443 

Bradley,  Rev.  Joseph  H.,  remarks  by 1172 

Brady,  Col.  James  D.,  address  by 484 

Breck,   Maj.   George,   address   by 1255 

Brigham,  Capt.  H.  G.,  historical  sketch  by 769 

Browne,  Edward,  historical  sketch  by 471 

Bruce,  Wallace,  poem  by 1046 

Buchanan,  Lieut.  Charles  J.,  oration  by 1064 

Bulkley,  Rev.  Charles  H.,  hymn  by 582 

Burials  in  National  Cemetery,  number  of 1372 

Burke,  Gen.  Dennis  F.,  oration  by 477 

Burton,  Capt.  John  E.,  address  by 1308 

Butterfield,   Gen.   Daniel,   biography  of 1340 

general  order  by ,. 206 

remarks    by 340    343 

1453 


1454  Index. 

C.  PAGE. 

Camp,  Col.  Walter  B.,  historicjil  notes  by 726 

Carleton,  Will,  poem  by 822 

Carmichae],  Col.  James  C,  oration  by 1058 

Carr,  Gen.  Joseph  B.,  biography  of 1351 

remarks   by 596 

tribute  of  respect  in  memory  of 1447 

Cary,  Adjt.  Seth  C,  address  by 852 

Case,  Lieut.  A.  P.,  historical  notes  by 969 

Casualties,  Army  of  the  Potomac 139-156 

Army  of  Northern  Virginia 176-188 

in  Gettysburg  campaign.  Union .' 157 

in  Gettysburg  campaign.  Confederate 188 

Chaplain   Howell,   death   of 24 

Circulars  and  Orders,  New  York  Day 195-210 

Clark,  Lieut.  F.  M.,  addresses  by 270,  278 

Clark,  Philip  S.,  historical  sketch  by 963 

Clarke,  Surg.  A.  P.,  historical  sketch  by 1136 

CJuney,  Col.  Thomas  T.,  address  by 386 

Coats,  Maj.  Andrew,  poem  by 976 

Collins,  Capt.  George  K.,  address  by 1018 

Collins,    Miss    Nettie,    unveils    monument 1012 

Collins,  William,  poem  by  482 

Commissioners'   special   report 1382 

Commissioners,   U.   S.,   Gettysburg  battlefield 1379 

Confederate  generajls  killed  at  Gettysburg 91 

wounded   at   Gettysburg 91 

Connolly,  Capt.  J.  H.,  letter  from 1060 

Cossitt,  Maj.  David,  address  by 845 

Cost  of  New  York  monuments  1381-1412,  1449,  1450 

Cowan,  Col.  Andrew,  letter  from  839 

Cowtan,  Maj.  Charles  W.,  address  by 270 

Coyne,  Col.  John  N.,  oration  by 586 

Crane,  Gen.  N.  M.,  address  by 763 

Crocker,  Col.  John  S.,  address  by 706 

Cronkite,  Col.  J.  W.,  historical  sketch  by 829 

Cross,  Gen.  Nelson,  oration  by 558 

D. 

Dandy,  Gen.  Geo.  B.,  Q.  M.  Dept.,  U.  S.  A.,  letters  from 1422 

Davey,  Capt.  George  W.,  historical  sketch  by 1309 

Davidson,  Capt.  John  T.,  address  by 1081 

Davy,  Hon.  John  M.,  oration  by 781 

Dedication  of  Regimental  Monuments: 

loth  New  York  Infantry 270 

12th  New  York  Infantry 340 

39th  New  York  Infantry 278 

40th  New  York  Infantry 288 

41st  New  York  Infantry 304 

42d   New  York   Infantry 312 

43d  New  York  Infantry 331 

44th  New  York  Infantry 35g 

4Sth  New  York  Infantry 375 

49th  New  York  Infantry 333 

S2d  New  York   Infantry 334 


Index.  1455 

Dedication  of  Regimental  Monuments —  (Continued):  page. 

S4th  New  York  Infantry 397 

S7th  New  York  Infantry 407 

S8th  New  York  Infantry 428 

Spth  New  York  Infantry 434 

60th  New  York  Infantry 443 

6ist  New  York  Infantry 456 

62d  New  York  Infantry 471 

63d  New  York  Infantry 475 

64th  New  York  Infantry 518 

6sth  New  York  Infantry , 536 

66th  New  York  Infantry 552 

67th  New  York  Infantry 558 

68th  New  York  Infantry 566 

69th  New  York  Infantry 475 

70th  New  York  Infantry 574 

7ist  New  York  Infantry 574 

72d  New  York  Infantry 574 

73d   New  York  Infantry 574,  599 

74th  New  York  Infantry 574 

76th  New  York  Infantry 610 

77th  New  York  Infantry 619 

78th  New  York  Infantry 627 

8oth  New  York  Infantry 641 

82d  New  York  Infantry 660 

83d  New  York  Infantry 670 

84th  New  York  Infantry 683 

86th  New  York  Infantry 694 

88th  New  York  Infantry 475 

93d  New  York  Infantry 706 

94th  New  York  Infantry 720 

"9Sth  New  York  Infantry 733 

97th  New  York  Infantry 742 

ro2d   New  York  Infantry 631,  626 

104th  New  York  Infantry 7So 

107th  New  York  Infantry 760 

io8th  New  York  Infantry ■  •  781 

Ilith  New  York  Infantry ■ 792 

119th  New  York  Infantry 807 

I20th  New  York  Infantry 814 

I2ist  New  York  Infantry 826 

I22d  New  York   Infantry 84s 

■123d  New  York  Infantry 852 

124th  New  York  Infantry 863 

l2Sth  New  York  Infantry 880 

126th  New  York  Infantry 896 

134th  New  York  Infantry 911 

136th  New  York  Infantry 922 

137th  New  York  Infantry 936 

140th  New  York  Infantry 952 

l4Sth  New  York  Infantry 961 

146th  New  York  Infantry 966 

147th  New  York  Infantry 988 

149th  New  York  Infantry loii 

iSOth  New  York  Infantry 1023 

iS4th  New  York  Infantry 1049 


i4S6  Index. 

Dedication  of  Regimental  Monuments  —  (Continued):  page. 

IS7th  New  York  Infantry 1058 

ist  New  York  Sharpshooters 1063 

iSth  New  York  Engineers ■ 1081 

Soth   New  York  Engineers 1081 

2d    New  York   Cavalry 1096 

4th  New  York  Cavalry iiii 

Sth  New  York  Cavalry 1124 

6th  New  York  Cavalry 1132 

Sth  New  York  Cavalry 1142 

pth  New  York  Cavalry 1149 

loth  New  York  Cavalry , 1158 

1st  Nev^  York  Light  Artillery,  B 1178 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,  C 1188 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,  D 1194 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,  E 1219 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,  G 1236 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,   1 1243 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,  K 1250 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,  L 1253 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,  M 1263 

1st  New  York  Independent  Battery 1269 

3d  New  York  Independent  Battery 1283 

4th  New  York  Independent  Battery 1289 

Sth  New  York  Independent  Battery 1296 

6th  New  York  Independent  Battery 1300 

loth  New  York  Independent  Battery 1305 

nth  New  York  Independent  Battery 1308 

13th  New  York  Independent  Battery 1316 

14th  New  York  Independent  Battery 1324 

ISth  New  York  Independent  Battery 1327 

Dedication  New  York  State  Monument 234 

Deductions  and  conclusions < 92-101 

DeKalb  Regiment,  history  of 304 

Derrick,  Rev.  W.  B.,  invocation  by 234 

Diven,  Gen.  Alex.  S.,  oration  by 760 

Dietrich,   Lieut.   Henry,  oration  by 281 

Dodge,  Col.  Theodore  A.,  oration  by 807 

Doubleday,    Gen.   Abner,   biography   of 1341 

letter  from   643 

Dunkerley,  Rev.  J.  R.,  invocation  by 826 

Dwyer,  Maj.  John,  historical  sketch  by 491 

E. 
Eastman,  Rev.  W.  R.,  invocation  by 583 

!  F- 

Farley,  Capt.  Porter,  address  by 983 

Farnsworth,  Gen.  E.  J.,  circumstances  of  death 86 

Farrington,  Surg.  John  M.,  history  by 936 

Fassett,  Col.  L.  H.,  address  by 527 

Final  Report  of  N.  Y.  Monuments  Commission 1413 

Financial  Statement  of  Commission  1451 

First  Day's  Battle,  history  of 7-32 

Fiske,  James   B.,  address  by 974 


Index.  1457 

PAGE. 

Fitch,  Capt.  Arthur  S.,  historical  sketch  by 764 

Fitts,  Capt.  James  F.,  poem  by 1167 

Flower,  Gov.   Roswell  P.,  addresses  by 250,    296 

Forces  engaged,  battle  of  Gettysburg 101-107 

Ford,  Col.  George  W.,  address  by S46 

Foster,  Rev.  I.  M.,  invocation  by 974 

Fowler,  Gen.  Edward  B.,  remarks  by 692 

Fowler,  Lieut.  Erwin  G.,  poem  by , 864 

Fox,  Rev.  Norman,  oration  by > 621 

Fox,  Col.  William  F.,  history  of  battle 7-188 

Frederick,   Rev.   Gilbert,^  history  by 407 

French,  Gen.  Winsor  B.,  address  by 619 

Fuller,  Lieut.  Charles  A.,  oration  by 456 

G. 

Garibaldi  Guard,  historical  sketch   of 282 

Gates,  Gen.  Theodore  B.,  address  by 641 

General  return  of  casualties 157 

Generals  killed  and  wounded  at  Gettysburg 91 

Gettysburg  Battlefield  Memorial  Association 1371 

Gettysburg,  History  of  battle  of 7-188 

Geoghegan,  William,  poems  by   318,    476 

Gilder,  Richard  Watson,  poem  by 291 

Gildersleeve,   Maj.   Henry  A.,   oration   by 1026 

Glazier,  Capt.  Willard,  history  by 1102 

Glenny,  Gen.  William,  oration  by ■  518 

Gordon,   Rev.   Henry,  oration  by 852 

Graham,  General  Charles  K.,  biography  of 1360 

tribute  of  respect  in  memory  of 1425 

Graves,   Charles  E.,  address  by 1063 

Greene,  Gen.  George  S.,  addresses  by 263,    344 

biography  of  1349 

Greene's    Brigade,    reunion    of 258-266 

Gregg,  Gen.  David  M.,  remarks  by 1171 

Grindlay,  Gen.  James  G.,  historical  sketch  by 966 

Grumbach,  Col.  Nicholas,  address  by 1019 

H. 

Hall,   Maj.   Isaac,   address  by 742 

Harrington,  George  E.,  address  by 291 

Hatch,  Capt.  Marlin  F.,  remarks  by 1102 

Hayes,  Lieut.  Henry  E.,  address  by 1158 

Hedges,  Hon.  Ira  M.,  address  by ■^^^ 

Heermance,  Col.  W.  L.,  oration  by 1 132 

Historical  Sketches  of  Regiments: 

loth  New  York  Infantry 270 

I2th  New  York  Militia 344 

I2th  New  York  Infantry 348 

39th  New  York  Infantry ■ 282 

40th  New  York  Infantry 296 

41st  New  York  Infantry 304 

43d    New   York   Infantry 333 

44th  New  York  Infantry 357 

45th  New  York  Infantry 378 

49th  New  York  Infantry 387 

92 


1458  Index. 

Historical  Sketches  of  Regiments — (Continued):  page. 

52d     New  York  Infantry , 394 

54th  New  York  Infantry 402 

S7th  New  York  Infantry 407 

S8th  New  York  Infantry 428 

60th  New  York  Infantry 450 

6ist  New  York  Infantry 462 

62d     New  York  Infantry 471 

63d     New  York  Infantry 486,    491 

64th,  New  York  Infantry 527 

66th  New  York  Infantry 555 

68th  New  York  Infantry 566 

69th  New  York  Infantry 506 

82d     New  York  Infantry 660 

83d     New  York  Infantry 677 

86th  New  York  Infantry. 700 

88th  New  York  Infantry 510 

93d     New  York  Infantry. . . , 715 

94th  New  York  Infantry 720,    726 

95th  New  York  Infantry 735 

I02d    New   York   Infantry 631 

104th  New  York  Infantry 755 

107th  New  York  Infantry 764    769 

119th  New  York  Infantry 811 

I2ist  New  York  Infantry 829,    839 

I22d     New  York  Infantry 850 

123d    New  York  Infantry 853 

124th  New  York  Infantry 867 

i2Sth  New  York  Infantry 880 

126th  New  York  Infantry 905 

134th  New  York  Infantry 915 

136th  New  York  Infantry 930 

137th   New  York  Infantry 936 

l4Sth  New  York  Infantry 963 

146th  New  York  Infantry 966 

147th  New  York  Infantry 997 

149th  New  York  Infantry. '. 1020 

iS4th  New  York  Infantry 1054 

lS7th  New  York  Infantry 1061 

1st    New  York  Sharpshooters 1064 

iSth  New  York  Engineers 1086 

Soth  New  York  Engineers. . . .- 1090 

2d    New  York  Cavalry 1099,  1102 

4th   New  York   Cavalry 1117,1119 

Sth  New  York  Cavalry 1124 

6th   New  York   Cavalry i 1136 

lOth   New  York   Cavalry 1173 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,   C 1188 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,  D 1194 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,   E 1219 

1st   New  York   Light  Artillery,   G 1236 

xst   New   York   Light  Artillery,   1 1245 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillci-y,   K 1250 

1st  New  York  Light  Artillery,   M 1263 

1st    New  York  Independent  Battery 1274 

3d    New  York  Independent  Battery 1283 


Index.  i459 

Historical  Sketches  of  Regiments  —  (Continued) :  page. 

4th  New  York  Independent  Battery 1294 

Sth  New  York  Independent  Battery 1296 

6th  New  York  Independent  Battery I303 

loth  New  York  Independent  Battery I305 

ilth  New  York  Independent  Battery i309 

13th  New  York  Independent  Battery 1318 

14th  New  York  Independent  Battery 1324 

iSth  New  York  Independent  Battery 1327 

History  of  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg 7-188 

Holabird,  S.  B.,  Q.  M.  Gen.,  U.  S.  A.,  letters  from 1421,  1425 

Holmes,  William  H.,  historical  sketch  by ; 1263 

Howell,   Chaplain,  death  of   24 

Hull,  Rev.  C.  F.,  oration  by 978 

Hussey,  Capt.  G.  A.,  historical  notes  by 677 

I. 

Itinerary,  Army  of  Northern  Virginia 1S9-164 

Army  of  the  Potomac  113-122 

K. 

Kay,  Joseph,  oration  by  275 

Keck,  Hon.  Jeremiah,  address  by 625 

Kennedy,  Maj.  George  W.,  remarks  by 1159 

Ketcham,  Gen.  John  H.,  address  by 1023 

King,  Lieut.  D.  H.,  historical  sketch  by 715 

Knox,  Lieut.  Edward  M.,  address  by 1327 

Krauth,  Hon.  John  M.,  remarks  by 1026 

Kummer,  Maj.  Arnold,  historical  sketch  by 566 

L. 

Leavitt,  Maj.  Samuel  H.,  historical  sketch  by 700 

Legislative  authority  for  report  2 

Lester,  Lieut.  Robert  J.,  address  by 952 

Lewis,  Col.  Juan,  poem  by 444 

Location,  size,  and  cost  of  monuments 1381-1412,  1449,  1450 

Lockman,  Gen.  John  T.,  address  by 810 

Lockwood,  Gen.  H.  H.,  address  by 1039 

Losses,  Army  of  Northern  Virginia 176-188 

Army  of  the  Potomac  139-156 

Lossing,  Benson  J.,  address  by  , 1036 

Low,  Hon.  Seth,  oration  by 533 

Ludwig,  Charles  H.,  poem  by 273 

Lyman,  Adjt.  H.  H.,  history  by 097 

M. 

MacDougall,   Gen.   C.  D.,  oration  by ypp 

Maguire,  Maj.  H.  M.,  historical  sketch  by 631 

Mahany,  Hon.  Rowland  B.,  poem  by 676 

Markell,  Col.  William  L.,  history  by 1142 

Maulsby,  Col.  William  P.,  address  by 1041 

McConaughty,  D.,  address  by   gio 

McEntee,  Col.  John,  address  by 641 

McGurrin,  Lieut.  John  P.,  address  by J3ig 

McKelvey,  A.  H.,  address  by   383 

McMahon,  Gen.  M.  T.,  address  by 320 


1460  Index. 

PAGE. 

McMaster,  Charles  H.,  oration  by 694 

McPherson,  Hon.  Edward,  remarks  by 328 

Meade,  Gen.  George  G.,  biographical  notice  of 28 

despatch  to  General  Halleck  41 

Medals  of  Honor  1444 

Memorial  Association,  Gettysburg   1371 

officers  of  1377 

Merritt,  Lieut.  E.  A.,  historical  sketch  by 450 

Mills,  Hon.  A.  M.,  oration  by 830 

Mills,   Capt.  Thomas  M.,  remarks  by i..    563 

Miner,   Clinton  H.,  address  by 929 

Moore,  Sergt.  W.  A.,  historical  sketch  by 1283 

Morey,  Capt.  Norris,  address  by  1160 

Morhous,  Sergt.  Henry  C,  history  by 853 

Murphy,  Lieut.  Joseph,  historical  sketch  by 296 

N. 

Names  of  New  York  soldiers  killed 215-233 

Nash,  Capt..  E.  A.,  oration  by  359 

National  Cemetery,  appropriations  for  1371 

Newburger,  Lieut.  Alex.,  address  by 1116 

Newman,  Maj.  John  L.,  historical  sketch  by 333 

New  York  Day,  celebration  of 193-266 

order  of  exercises  206 

order  of  parade  207-209 

New  York  monuments,  size,  cost,  etc 1381-1412,  1449,  1450 

officers  at  army  headquarters   123 

State  monument,  inscriptions    211 

troops  at  Gettysburg,  strength  of 108 

losses  of , 108 

Nooney,  Hon.  Robert  B.,  address  by 600 

Norcross,  Capt.  John  D.,  poem  by yAx 

Northrup,  E.  D.,  historical  sketch  by 1054 

Nugent,  Gen.  Robert,  address  by   47^ 

Numbers  engaged  at  Gettysburg  101-107 

Nutting,  Capt.  Lee,  address  by 45j 

O. 

Officers  Battlefield  Memorial  Association  1377 

Ogden,  Lieut.  Wood  T.,  address  by 864 

O'Grady,  Capt.  W.  L.  D.,  history  by 510 

O'Mara,   D.   A.,   address   by , 441 

Organization,  Army  of  Northern  Virginia i6i;-i7i; 

Army  of  the  Potomac  12  <-i  -iS 

of  parade,  New  York  Day 207-20Q 

Osborn,  Col.  Thomas  W.,  address  by '_  jjg . 

P. 

Parnell,  Col.  W.  R.,  historical  notes  by m- 

Parsons,  Hon.  Cornelius  R.,  address  by -3^5 

Parker,  Gen.  Ely  J.,  address  by -21 

Partridge,  Capt.  William  H.,  remarks  by eg. 

Pattison,  Gov.  R.  E.,  remarks  by 245 

Patrick,   Gen.   M.   R.,  biography  of j, ._ 

Payne,  Hon.  Sereno  E.,  oration  by j25q 

Peck,  Rev.  J.  O.,  invocation  by gg^ 


Index.  1461 

PAGE. 

Peck,  Capt.  J.  W.,  historical  sketch  by 627 

Pickett,  John  H.,  address  by 384 

Pierce,  C.  T.,  historical  sketch  by 1124 

Pierce,  Capt.  J.  V.,  address  by 988 

Potter,  Rev.  H.  C,  oration  by 240 

Potter,  Hon.  Orlando  B.,  oration  by 670 

Prescott,  Hon.  C.  D.,  address  by 745 

Preston,  Capt.  N.  D.,  historical  sketch  by 1173 

Prey,  Col.  Gilbert  G.,  historical  notes  by; 7SS 

Price,  Col.  Edward  L.,  oration  by 961 

Proctor,  Hon.  Redfield,  U.  S.  Secretary  of  War,  letter  of 1437 

R. 

Raines,  Hon.  John,  oration  by  896 

Remington,  Cyrus  K.,  address  by   1243 

Report  of  N.  Y.  Monuments  Commission 1382 

Reunion  Greene's  Brigade  258-266 

Reynolds,  Edward,  poem  by 453 

Richardson,  Maj.  C.  A.,  history  by ^  •    905 

Richardson,  Col.  Sherman  D.,  poem  by 787 

Robinson,  Gen.  John  C,  biography  of 1347 

Roll  of  Honor 215-233 

Rollinson,  Rev.  William,  address  by  1300 

Root,  Gen.  Adrian  R.,  history  by 729 

Roster,  Army  of  Northern  Virginia 165-175 

Army  of  the  Potomac 124-138 

Rugg,  Col.  Horace  P.,  address  by 440 

Russell,  Gen.  David  A.,  biography  of 1358 

Russell,  Capt.  William,  address  by  331 

s. 

Sawtelle,  Gen.  C.  G.,  Q.  M.  Dept.,  U.  S.  A.,  correspondence  with 1423 

Second  Day's  Battle,  history  of 32-68 

Secretary  of  War,  correspondence  with 1432,  1437 

Shaler,  Gen.  Alexander,  biography  of 1362 

oration   by 536 

Sharpe,  Gen.  George  H.,  oration  by . ....  .^ , 814 

Sickles,  Gen.  D.  E.,  addresses  by 235,  266,  312,    340 

biography  of   1336 

orders,  circulars,  and  letters.... 200-206,  1420,  1429-1432 

Simons,  Rev.  Ezra  D.,  history  by 880 

Slocum,  Gen.  H.  W.,  addresses  by 258,  263,  343, 1016 

biography  of 1333 

letter  from  838 

tribute  of  respect  in  memory  of 1446 

Smith,  Lieut.  A.  P.,  addresses  by 610 

Smith,  Gen.  Alfred  B.,  address  by 1024 

Smith,  Frederick,  historical  sketch  by 1245 

Smith,  Capt.  James  E.,  history  by 1289 

Smith,  Col.  James  J.,  history  by 506 

Snow,  Capt.  Arch.  B.,  statement  of 24 

Snow,  Benjamin  B.,  oration  by 792 

Snow,  Frank  F.,  poem  by 526 

Sprague,  C.  H.,  historical  sketch  by 720 


X 


1462  Index. 

PAGE. 

Sprague,  Col.  D.  W.  C,  poem  by ^..m..:.,..,^ 246 

State  appropriations,  National  Cemetery • 1371 

Gettysburg  Battlefield 1378 

monument,  inscriptions  on .- 211-214 

Stegman,  Col.  Lewis  R.,  oration  by 1012 

Stewart,  Capt.  Matthew,  address  by 599 

Stiner,  Capt.  Joseph  H.,  address  by 439 

Strang,  Col.  John  R.,  oration  by 750 

Strength  of  Union  Army  at  Gettysburg , 101-105 

Confederate  Army 105-107 

New  York  troops 108-109 

T. 

Taft,  Capt.  Elijah  D.,  historical  sketch  by ■ 1296 

Tanner,  Corporal  James,  oration  by  288 

Taylor,  Benjamin  F.,  address  by  610 

Third  Day's  Battle,  history  of 68-92 

Thomas,  C.  B.,  historical  sketch  by 1127 

Thompson,  N.  R.,  address  by 385 

Tidball,  Col.  William,  oration  by 434 

Townsend,  Hon.  Martin  I.,  address  by 880 

Tracy,  Col.  O.  V.,  address  by 846 

Travis,  Hon.  Eugene  B.,  oration  by 1097 

Tremain,  Gen.  Henry  E.,  addresses  by 584,    601 

Turner,  Sergt.  Benjamin  L.,  address  by mi 

Tuthill,  Col.  Henry  G.,  address  by ^ 755 

Twichell,  Rev.  Joseph  H.,  oration  by 575 

U. 

Underbill,  Capt.  E.  H.,  history  by 1220 

Union  generals  killed  and  wounded 91 

V. 

Van  Santvoord,  Rev.  Cornelius,  oration  by 645 

Von  Steinwehr,  Gen.  Adolph,  biography  of 1345 

W. 

Wadsworth,   Gen.  James  S.,  biography  of 1343 

Wahle,  Jr.,  Charles  G.  F.,  address  by 399 

Ward,  Gen.  J.  H.  Hobart,  biography  of 1356 

Warren,  Gen.  G.  K.,  biography  of 980 

Warren  monument,  dedication  of  974 

Watkins,  Prof.  J.  H.,  poem  by 826 

Webb,  Gen.  Alex.  S.,  biography  of 1365 

Weed,  Gen.  Stephen  H.,  biography  of 1364 

Weeks,  Bartow  S.,  address  by 325 

Werneck,  Capt.  F.  J.,  address  by 397 

Weygant,  Col.  Charles  H.,  history  by 867 

Whipple,  Hon.  J.  S.,  address  by 1052 

Wood,  Gen.  James,  oration  by  922 

Woodford,  Gen.  Stewart  L.,  oration  by , 863 

Wright,  Gen.  H.  G.,  letter  from 838 

\yills,'  Hon.  David,  protest  of 143, 

Z. 

Zabriskie,  A.  J,  Secy.,  circulars  issued  by 195-200 

Zook,  Gen.  Samuel  K.,  biography  of-... 1358 


rifeHmmaaki 


'i'mm^imm^fi^it^  ■'■■■ ;  .>^ 


ii  I 


■^.1.    :—.-■. ■^..1-,-,-i-:t-r'-..-jii.ij_ir=i^-fj--£riit-~-ri    i",    '   -— r/3  7 

:-T-T,-!-.-;     ";.  ■    -.-1    ii'iTjfierCFjcrt*  .-(•nTiHtp.i-tniJril      .   .'"-iJ"*tial--., __-., ■- ,-, i^-is 


|i|ll« 


.m^ 


'  '■!)^Li:4:li[i:ii ' 


'  '.''''I^t^^ 


J!i'     ' 


ivi  LEV 


i .     .11,  .,r,T  1  ^  I  A.-!  n; .- 1!3  Ki-ii 


I 


I 


I 


bill  'iT^ 


\      I  '  Vi 

II 
I 


u 


1    3'l 


^'^iSlil ': 


I  J. 


<■«- 


1 1  '--1. 


lUk 


'■►  *ri     '-  file'--  ''^        'J 


I  S»."f"1't  '*'  f 


T^O^  "1^ 


lf?i-l! 


'  i''i 


!  H  1 


c.j?  <  I  I     ,11  'J     1:3  I 


HrJjii'lL  itliiiil  kyiJSfc  kML.iJhi.lry*  fit